Pearland/Friendswood/Alvin Sports

Pearland pitcher Rhiannon Kliesing, a Texas A&M signee, allowed only one hit and one walk  in Thursday's 12 13-strikeout performance against Fort Bend Austin. THOMAS B. SHEA: FOR THE CHRONICLE

Pearland's Tiffany Stritz (right) high-fives assistant coach Isabel Gomez after scoring a third-inning run.  THOMAS B. SHEA: FOR THE CHRONICLE

By JENNY DIAL
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Pearland made a statement on Thursday night.

With a 7-0 win over Fort Bend Austin (19-13) at Elkins High School in the first round of the playoffs, the Oilers (29-6) let everyone know that they are in it to win it.

"It started here, tonight," Pearland pitcher Rhiannon Kliesing said. "We wanted to take care of business tonight, do everything well and show that we are capable of taking care of some unfinished business."

Pearland, the District 24-5A champion, went into Thursday night's game with loads of determination.

A few years ago, the Oilers couldn't make it out of the first round. Last season, they made it to the regional semifinals before losing to eventual regional champ Brazoswood.

Reloading team

The Oilers lost several seasoned starters from that squad but used this year to regroup. With a tough non-district tournament schedule paired with a district season that included games against top-five teams Alvin and Brazoswood, the young, inexperienced Oilers came a long way.

"This game says that we have really come together this year and improved as a team," Pearland coach Laneigh Clark said. "Tonight showed off every aspect of our team. It's so rewarding to see what all the hard work came down to tonight."

It started in the circle, where Kliesing struck out 12 13 of the 20 24 batters she faced. The Texas A&M signee didn't allow any bases on balls and allowed only one hit in the game.

"(Kliesing) has been in the playoffs before, and she knows what is expected," Clark said. "She gets in there and gets the job done every time."

Heavy hitters

Pearland's offense followed suit by collecting 13 hits, seven two of which were for extra bases. The Oilers took a 1-0 lead in the second on a double steal, with Jensen Tydelki stealing home as Jaclyn Bechtle took second.

"When you can succesfully complete that play, it gives your team a lot of momentum and it can frustrate your opponents," Clark said.

Triple gets it started

In the third inning, the Oilers had three more hits, spurred by Megan Coronado's stand-up triple to center. Tiffany Stritz had a single to center in that inning and Bechtle added a double single to left. Pearland scored three more third-inning runs and never looked back.

"We just got it going, and everyone hit," Coronado said. "We all felt really comfortable and prepared out there tonight. Once we had that lead, we just kept it going."

Kelsea Orsak had a two-run double in the fourth inning and Lindsey Lagner added an RBI single in the sixth to give Pearland the win. Five of Pearland's runs came when the Oilers had two outs.

"To come out here and win this way is really a great feeling," Kliesing said. "We are all just so confident heading into the next round and know what we are capable of doing. We never let down in this game."

jenny.dial@chron.com