MOSS BLUFF — No. 8 Sam Houston was in a bind Thursday afternoon in the Class 5A regional playoffs.

No. 9 Natchitoches Central was up 5-2 in the fifth inning, but junior Lexi Dibbley blasted a pair of home runs, and nine-hole hitter Carolina Eidson drove in the go-ahead run to lift the Broncos to a 6-5 win.

“We have done that all year,” Sam Houston head coach Beth Domingue said. “We have been down a lot this year, and we have come back the majority of the time.

“When we had three more innings, we had three more chances to get three runs and I didn’t feel like it was time to press at that point. I know that at any point in our lineup we can score. We have some consistent hitters throughout.”

With the score tied 5-5, Sam Houston’s (24-8) Onya Parker and Hailey Mire led off the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back hits. Jolie Dore’s sacrifice bunt moved both in scoring position, and Eidson hit a liner to right field to bring home Parker.

“I was thinking I got to do what is best for my team,” Eidson said. “Just a base hit would score a run, whatever works.

“That was amazing. That is the best feeling I have ever had. Obviously, we showed that we can battle and that we can come back and are not going to give up.”

The Chiefs (21-9) went up 5-2 on a three-run home run by Sydney Terrell in the top of the fifth, but Dibbley matched it with a three-run shot of her own to dead center field to knot up the score. Dibbley also hit a solo home run in the fourth to tie the score at 2-2, and Madelyn England hit a solo round-tripper in the first inning.

“I had to be there for my team,” Dibbley said. “I hadn’t showed up for my team totally lately, and I felt like I needed to push it more, and I think I did that better today.

“Today, we played a tough team, but our team really pulled through. I am really proud of them.”

Dibbley earned the win in the circle after relieving starter Mallory Wills with one out in the fifth inning.

She pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Wills had four strikeouts.

“We need her (Dibbley) hot,” Domingue said. “I am glad she is hot.

“She needs that. I want her to have all the confidence in the world. I am happy for her. She was clutch tonight.”

Sam Houston will travel to No. 1 Pineville (33-2) in the quarterfinals. The Rebels beat No. 17 Southside 4-2 on Thursday.