Panthers split with Huntingdon

April 12, 2007

The Panthers split with the Lady Hawks of Huntingdon, winning the first game, 5-2 while dropping the second, 10-5.  The Panthers are now 24-14 on the year while Huntingdon currently stands at 12-15.  The Panthers secured a second seed in the GSAC Tournament next weekend while the Lady Hawks are a #3 seed. 

The Panthers got off to a quick start in the first game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Valeree Williams scored off a sacrifice bunt by Dicie Holland. 

Kim Woodard would extend the Panthers' lead in the third as she belted a solo-homer down the leftfield line.  After Holland smacked a base hit, pinch runner Kelly Lewis stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and would score off a sacrifice hit by Jennifer Knight to give the Panthers a 3-0 advantage.

After the Lady Hawks scored two runs in the top of the fourth, Amanda Daniel (12-7) would calm down and not allow a run the rest of the game, finishing with six strikeouts in her 11th complete game of the season.  She is now 16 strikeouts shy of the single-season record.

Woodard (pictured) went one-for-one with a walk, her fourth home run of the season, an RBI and two runs scored.  Knight would finish with a single and two RBI's.

The second game got off to a hot start with both teams scoring early.  After Huntingdon scored three runs in the top of the first, the Panthers answered back with two runs as Knight and Holland each scored after Kayla Yeargin reached base on a throwing error and advanced to second to make the score 3-2 after one.

After three innings of scoreless softball, the Lady Hawks got runs in a hurry, scoring six runs over the next three innings building a 9-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Knight would send a shot to deep left centerfield for a three-run homer to make the score 10-5, but it would not be enough as the Lady Hawks made the final out to end the game and the late two-out rally by the Panthers.  It was Knight's fourth home run of the season.

Knight would finish 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored.  Megan Henry (9-6) would pick up the loss.

The Panthers will close out their regular season at Emory University on Sunday, April 15 with the first game of the doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.  The #23 ranked Eagles swept the Panthers at home earlier this season.