Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Chanute, KS -  It was a tale of two games for the Neosho County softball team on Wednesday afternoon against Northeast (Neb.) Community College.
In game one, it was all Northeast, but in game two, it was all Neosho County. In game one, the visiting Hawks, based out of Norfolk, Neb., jumped out to a 4-0 lead and cruised to a 15-6 win in six innings. With a four-run deficit, the Panthers countered with four in the bottom of the second to tie the game, but that proved to be as close as Neosho County came to seeing the lead in game one. Northeast added at least one run over the final four innings, including six in the sixth to cap off the run-ruled victory. "Game one got away from us," Coach Kim Alexander said. "We had a lot of easy, routine mistakes that we can't have." Sophomore Abby Brickey was tagged with the loss in 4 2/3 innings of relief pitching. She struck out one while surrendering seven earned runs. "I thought our pitchers threw decently well," Alexander said. "Offensively, it was ok. It wasn't as good as our offense can be, but it was better than it has been." Offensively, sophomore Taylor McGuire went 2-for-3 at the plate in the Panthers seven-hit game.
    In game two, it was Neosho County who jumped out to an early lead and set sail for an 8-2 victory. The Panthers pounded out 11 hits, led by sophomore Saige Vandiver, freshmen Shelby Wood and Libby Horton who had two hits apiece. Leadoff hitter Sierra Spurlock got the ball rolling, reaching on an error in the bottom of the first inning, and it eventually led to two runs in the inning. "Game two, we came out and played a lot better," Alexander said. In the fourth inning, the Panthers opened the game up with four runs in the frame.
Wood led off with a single, and Torie Pulliam, Horton, Spurlock, McGuire and Kinsley Stewart all tallied hits in the inning. The Panthers also managed to swipe three bases in the inning, extending its lead to 6-1. "I want to rave on our slappers," Alexander said. "They are doing an excellent job. They are putting the ball in play and are basically making our offense right now. They are making things happen. They are moving around. They putting themselves in position to steal." Neosho County got two more in the fifth to keep Northeast at bay.
Freshman Mary Kate Hale picked up the win, striking out three and surrendering one run in four innings of work. "She's doing good. She has a hurt arm right now. So, we are trying not to overdo it," Alexander explained. "We played better defensively behind Mary Kate. Hopefully she can stay consistent and go from there." Neosho County (3-7) has a quick turnaround as it hosts rival Labette Community College (0-8) at 2 pm today to open conference play. "I think we'll be fine as long as we don't let our nerves, our eagerness over take us," Alexander concluded. "I think they are ready to get conference going. That's why we play hard teams in the non-conference, so we can get prepared for this."