MOSS BLUFF — One big inning and an overpowering performance by pitcher Lexi Dibbley carried Sam Houston to a 4-1 win over Walker in a nonselect Division I quarterfinal playoff softball game.

The No. 3 Broncos (30-2) advanced to the state tournament for a second consecutive season. They will play the winner of today’s No. 2 Live Oak-No. 7 West Ouachita game in the semifinals.

The Broncos scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Carolina Eidson doubled and scored on a Dibbley double. Hailey Mire, Bralyn McCain and Jolie Dore hit consecutive run-scoring singles with two outs.

“We were aggressive early in the count and were attacking good pitches,” Broncos head coach Beth Domingue said. “Later in the game we expanded the zone and started chasing some pitches.”

Dibbley retired the first eight Walker batters and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Walker scored on a double by Caitlyn Riche and single by Madison Wilcombe.

The Wildcats (18-10) would get only one more hit, a seventh-inning infield single by Wilcombe. Dibbley walked two and struck out 12.

“Her command was on point,” Domingue said. “Everything we were calling, she was putting it right where we wanted it. She did a phenomenal job.”

Eidson, Dibbley, Mire and Dore each had two hits for Sam Houston.

The win was the 400th in Domingue’s career. She says she’s hoping for two more next week.

“I’m excited and really happy for the seniors who get to go back,” she said. “But there is still a lot of work to be done. This isn’t the end of the road.”

The Broncos avenged a 2019 home loss to Walker in the quarterfinals. The Broncos have qualified for the semifinal round nine times in 15 seasons.

Sam Houston has won 22 of its last 23 games.