A win streak of 10 straight ended for the Neosho County Community College softball team in Muskogoee, Okla. in a weather abbreviated 7-1 loss to Bacone College Wednesday.
The Panthers (7-2 KJCCC East, 12-13 overall) won their 10th straight with a 8-0 victory in game one of the double header. Sitting in the No. 2 spot in Region VI Div. II, the Panthers started the season losing 10 straight. After splitting with Labette Community College on March 10 the Panthers are 11-2.
"I think once we got a couple of big games under our belt and saw what we could actually do, I think it just triggered for them," Panther Head Softball Coach Kim Alexander said. "After that it was 'we can do this' type of thing. We stepped up our offense came alive. The pitching stepped up and did really well for us. Kept us in ball games."
During the run, Neosho knocked off a rolling Hutchinson that was sitting at 7-1 in the Jayhawk East entering the double header.
"When we swept Hutch it was big for us," Alexander said. "We knew that they were doing pretty well."
Neosho sits at No. 2 in the Jayhawk East, a game behind NJCAA No. 8 Johnson County Community College. The sights are set on a Jayhawk East title and No. 1 seed entering the Region VI postseason.
"I think we can do it," Alexander said. "We still have competition ahead of us, but I think the girls have what it takes. They know exactly what they need and exactly what it takes. They believe now."
Tuesday the Panthers traveled to Fort Scott and won the first game of the double header 1-0 before Mother Nature cut the second game short, with Neosho holding a 1-0 lead. The game is expected to be resumed in about two weeks.
Sophomore pitcher Meaghan Thompson picked up two more wins. At Fort Scott, Thompson went the distance striking out eight. Sophomore Jozie Garner had the lone RBI, driving home Karolyna Gomez.
Six Jayhawk and Region VI double headers remain for the Panthers, starting with Allen County Community College in Chanute on March 31.
Neosho travels to Overland Park to face No. 8 Johnson County on April 7. No. 12 Cowley Community College hosts Neosho April 11. No 4 Highland Community College comes to Chanute April 14.
As the season winds down and the standings race heats up, the Panthers are ready to make a run, Alexander said.
"I think all the way around the board everybody's got that fight. They know its there and they're not going to let anybody take it."
Neosho's next action is Sunday. The Panthers host Connors State College at 1 p.m.
