After a pair of close games in the regular season, Wednesday's playoff opener was more of the same for Roland and Sallisaw.

The visiting Lady Rangers finally put Sallisaw away to claim a 7-4 victory in Game 1 of the Class 4A district playoffs hosted by the Lady Diamonds.

The best-of-three series was scheduled to resume on Friday with Game 2 at 3 p.m., followed by Game 3 if necessary.

The triumph was Roland's second of the year against its county rivals and avenged a tough 9-7 setback at Sallisaw from the week before.

Lady Ranger head coach Crystal Looper was pleased to see her team protect its lead on Wednesday, which was something Roland didn't do in its previous meeting with Sallisaw.

"It was kind of back-and-forth the whole time. We had the lead most of the way, but that's how it was last time and I was pretty worried," said Looper. "It felt pretty good to get through the top part of their line-up in the bottom of the sixth."

Roland was clinging to a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning when pitcher Katie Matlock retired three of Sallisaw's top hitters. The Lady Rangers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Molly Gordon and Jasmine Kirkwood scored on a Sallisaw error.

Matlock went on to get the win. The sophomore left-hander struck out five, walked five and scattered six hits over a full seven innings of work.

"Katie did a great job. That's the best she's pitched for us in a long time," said Looper. "That's all we've been asking her to do. Pitch it up there and let people hit and let our defense make the plays."

Roland got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning thanks to a Sallisaw error and three bases on balls. Leadoff hitter Kensey Clark reached on the error, stole second base and scored on Linzie Roberts' RBI single. Katie Matlock followed with a walk and eventually scored from third when Molly Gordon drew a bases-loaded walk for a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Diamonds fought back in the bottom of the inning. Switch-hitter Molly Hadley belted a triple to deep right-center and scored when Ashley Covington hit a grounder up the middle.

Sallisaw pulled even at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. Shelby Morgan led off with a walk and moved to second on Erin Cox's sacrifice bunt. Erica Robertson hit a line-drive for an RBI single to drive in Morgan.

Roland's biggest inning was in the fourth, when the Lady Rangers plated three runs. Dera Jiles led off with a triple and stole home to make it 3-2. With two outs, Matlock drove the ball into deep left-center field and sped around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. The next three batters got on base and Gordon took one for team, getting hit by a pitch to bring in the last run of the inning.

Sallisaw continued to fight back and pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth. Cox's RBI double down the right field line scored Lyndsey Daggs. Robertson hit another double with two outs to drive in Cox.

Sallisaw pitcher Amy Smith retired six of the next seven Roland batters to keep the home team close, but the Lady Diamonds stranded five runners over the next three innings and could not make a comeback.

Smith took the loss. The junior right-hander allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked 10 while going the distance.

Catcher Robertson paced the Lady Diamonds with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate and two RBIs. Hadley, Covington, Daggs and Cox had the other four hits for Sallisaw.

Senior third baseman Roberts was 2-for-4 to lead Roland. Katie Matlock, Chelsea Matlock, Gordon, Kirkwood and Jiles also had base hits in the victory.

Looper said it was a solid all-around effort by Roland, which had just one fielding error.

"We've had games where we've been real good at the plate or real good in the field, but not both. We kind of put them both together today and that's what we've been waiting on. This is the time of year you want to do that. I'm real pleased with how we played," she said.