Birdwell's Walk-off Seals the Deal in Panthers Victory Over Hesston College

It came down to the wire on Tuesday for game one, with Neosho Softball taking the win on a dramatic walk-off home run in the seventh inning that sealed their victory over Hesston College. The game was tied at four with the Panthers batting in the bottom of the seventh when leadoff hitter Kirsten Birdwell hit a solo homer. Neosho did a great job of answering back at the plate every time Hesston put up a run. Zito went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Panthers in hits and lead in RBI's with two. Birdwell, Gazaway, Paulson, Daniels, Marchoud, and Fuller each contributed at the plate with a hit a piece. Freshman Lauren Fuller started the game for NCCC. The pitcher surrendered four runs on six hits over three innings, striking out one and walking one. Cassidy Paulson was the winning pitcher for the Panthers. The righty went four innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out four and walking zero.

Nine Inning Game Doesn't Fall Neosho's Way

The Panthers stayed in it until the end, but Hesston College pulled away late in a 7-6 victory for game two. In the second inning, the Panthers got their offense started, scoring two runs when Espy Daniels sent a laser over the center field fence. The Panthers evened things up again at six in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Daniels hit another bomb. Hannah Duin shortly followed it up with another long ball in the fifth. Cassidy Paulson took the loss for the Panthers. The righty went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two. Ravin Moore started the game for the Panthers. Moore lasted four and a third innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out three and walking zero. The Panthers racked up six hits on the day.  Duin and Daniels each managed multiple hits for the Panthers.  Kirsten Birdwell and Mallory Gazaway both had a hit as well. Daniels led the RBI category with three runs batted in.