Chanute, KS - The Neosho County Community College softball suffered a sweep at the hands of rival Labette Community College on Thursday afternoon to open the conference portion of the Panthers schedule. LCC scored 7-3 and 17-9 wins over the Panthers. In game one, Labette was first on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, but it was Neosho County who looked to take control of the game in the bottom of the second. Kinsley Steward and Taylor Stepp walked, and Ashlyn Riley and Libby Horton followed the free bases with singles to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Neosho County looked to build on its lead, but was unable to bring anyone home with the bases loaded. Labette took the lead in the top of the fourth with three runs and never surrendered the lead the rest of the game. In the home half of the fifth, the Panthers looked to regain the lead, loading the bases with no one out, but like the third inning, they were unable to plate any runs. Labette added two more runs over the final two innings in what proved to be their first win of the season.
    In game two, it was again Labette who scored first, but Neosho County responded with a singles from Saige Vandiver, Sydnie McClelland, Taylor McGuire and Katelyn Stucky to go back ahead 2-1. However, the visiting Cardinals pounded out four home runs over the next two innings. That broke the game wide open as Labette took control 17-5 after three innings.
Neosho County managed to scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals went on to run-rule the Panthers in game two.
    The Panthers travel to Coffeyville on Monday, March 12 for a 2:00 pm double-header.