Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
HIGHLAND, Kan. – An eight run first inning wasn't enough to help Neosho past No. 4 Highland as the Panthers dropped game one 17-8 before falling in game two 10-0.
 
The Neosho (9-14, 5-5 Region VI) offense came out clicking on all cylinders against Highland (16-2, 11-1 Region VI). The first six Panthers to come to the plate reached base. Breanna Meyer's double plated Sidney Hess and Katie Todd to take a 4-0 lead and chase Highland starting pitcher Paige Crawford.
 
The Panthers would plate four more runs in the inning which was capped off by a double from Hess to drive in a pair of runs to give them an 8-0 lead.
 
The Scotties would rebound with four runs in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half.
 
After plating eight runs on 6 hits in the first, the Panthers were held hitless the rest of the ballgame. Highland would take their first lead of the game in the third after scoring five runs to go up 9-8. They would tack on eight more in the bottom of the fourth and held the Panthers scoreless in the fifth to invoke the run rule.
 
Krissy Crow (3-4) took the loss in the circle for the Panthers after allowing 9 runs, only 6 of which were earned, in 3.0 innings of work.
 
The Panther offense that had gone cold after their eight run first inning of game one continued to struggle in the second game. Neosho only managed a pair of base runners in the 10-0 loss in game two. Anna Crawford managed a single in the second inning while Jozie Garner's single in the third would be the only offense they could muster.
 
Highland pitchers Taylor Phillips and Jasmine Stewart combined to allow only a pair of hits while striking out nine Panthers. Lexie Heiniger (1-1) took the loss for the Panthers in game two allowing 9 runs on 10 hits in her 3.0 innings of work.
 
Neosho will return home for a four game home stand beginning Friday (Mar. 21). They will host Region VI opponents Hesston College (3-9, 1-7 Region VI) at 2pm before closing out the weekend with a pair of games against Hutchinson Community College (5-11, 4-6 Region VI) at 12pm on Saturday.