Wednesday night’s clash between Pike Liberal Arts and Macon-East softball was billed as a heated matchup between the AISA’s top-two teams and even more intense rivals.

But it was the No. 1 Knights who ran away with the game early on, as Macon-East defeated No. 2 Pike Liberal Arts 15-1 in six innings in Troy.

With the win, Macon-East secures its hold of the top spot in the AISA rankings.

“We were just exhausted,” Pike softball head coach Allie Park said. “We are going to the Macon-East tournament this weekend, and both of my pitchers are exhausted, and we are going to just try to give everyone a break and give them rest tomorrow.”

It took Macon-East little time to jump ahead in the game Wednesday night, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning on Pike starting pitcher Sam Yarbrough.

After the first two Knights runners reached base on walks, Paxton Searle scored Macon-East’s first two runs of the game on a two-RBI double that brought in both base runners.

Two batters later, Mari-Beth Baker scored two more Knights on a single to left field.

And soon after, Baker was brought home on a bad throw, Macon-East’s fifth run of the inning.

After adding two more runs in the top of the second, Macon-East carried a 7-0 lead all the way into the sixth inning after the Lady Patriots’ defense settled in.

Pike did its best to rally, scoring its only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After Mya Terry and Kayla Benton reached on singles, Amberlyn Baker drove in Terry on an RBI double.

But that was all the offense the Lady Patriots could muster, as Yarbrough struck out on the ensuing at-bat.

And in the top of the sixth inning, Macon-East clinched the game, scoring seven more runs to slam the door shut on Pike on its way to a six-inning win.

“They (Macon-East) are very mental for us,” Park said. “They are a rival team and they were in our region last year. They are very good and they are No. 1 in the state. We have played so many games now that we are exhausted. We will be fine. We just need a couple days.”

Pike will now prepare for the Macon-East tournament this weekend in Montgomery.