The Neosho County softball team opened the home portion of the conference schedule with a pair of wins over Coffeyville Community College on a chilly Friday afternoon in Chanute. The Panthers swept the visiting Red Ravens 6-4 and 16-0. In game one, the Panthers came out swinging. A leadoff double by freshman Taylor McGuire sparked a 3-run frame to give Neosho County the early advantage. It was a lead they never surrendered throughout both games. Coffeyville trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third inning, but Neosho County countered with a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to edge the Ravens. Sophomore Hannah Reed paced the Panther attack with a 3-for-3 day at the plate. McGuire and freshmen Taylor Easley and Cheyenne Bryant tallied two hits apiece in the win. Freshman Abby Brickley struck out 12 in the seven-inning outing.

In game two, Neosho County kept the momentum on its side, pounding out 16 runs on 15 hits to run-rule the Red Ravens in only five innings, while limiting Coffeyville to only three hits.
The big inning came in the second when the Panthers poured on eight runs. All the runs came with one out already on the scoreboard. After Easley grounded out, McGuire reached on one of three Red Raven errors, and things quickly unraveled for Coffeyville. Three consecutive singles and a walk made the score 4-0. The Red Ravens got Bryant to pop out, but Neosho County plated six more runs before the Coffeyville defense could head to the dugout. The Panthers added four more in the third and two more in the fourth to pick up their third and fourth wins of the season. A total of five Panthers recorded a multiple-hit performance in game two. Freshman Shelby Woods and sophomore Lily Ross went 3-for-4, while McGuire, freshman Taylor Stepp and freshman Katelynn Stucky combined for two hits apiece. Sophomore Taylor Holtkamp picked up the win, pitching four innings. She struck out two and walked two. Freshman Emma Cooper finished out the game, pitching the fifth.

Neosho County (4-8 overall and 3-1 in the KJCCC) will travel to Fort Scott on Wednesday, March 15 for a 2 pm doubleheader.