Newberry Softball Pulls Away Late For Win Against P.K. Yonge

NEWBERRY — The Newberry Panthers softball team gave its home crowd plenty to cheer about on Monday night — honoring senior Sarah Priester and using a monster sixth inning to blow past P.K. Yonge, 11-2, to improve to 14-3 on the season.

Priester, the senior recognized before the game, reached base twice and scored a run in the win.

“We’ve had a night for each of our seniors, and she showed out,” Newberry coach Michele Roundtree said. “She’s been struggling, so I was really proud.”

Trading Blows Early

The Blue Wave opened the scoring in the top of the first by capitalizing on a Newberry error and an RBI single by senior Alison Sanetz. However, the Panthers quickly answered. In the bottom of the second, with the bases loaded, Gracie Mattson — a Stetson softball commit — delivered a two-RBI double to put Newberry ahead 2-1.

End 2 | Newberry 2, P.K. Yonge 1

Stetson commit Gracie Mattson hits a 2-RBI Double to take the lead in the bottom of the second. pic.twitter.com/6DWEsMwOze

— Tyler Brodie (@TTyler60231) April 14, 2025

Two innings later, Mattson came through again. The senior roped an RBI double into the right field corner to make it 3-1. Freshman Tristan Layfield followed by driving her in with a triple to extend the Panthers’ lead to 4-1.

The Blue Wave trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth on an RBI double by junior Sydney Corona, but Newberry had an emphatic response waiting.

Sixth-Inning Surge

Newberry’s offense erupted in the bottom of the sixth. The Panthers sent 13 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on seven hits.

After sophomore Aubrey Mattson singled, Mattson crushed an RBI triple — her third extra-base hit of the night. Layfield added an RBI groundout and junior Sarah Burns followed with an RBI double. Sophomore Madison Rodgers and junior Olivia Tharp added hits, senior Malana Kennard stole multiple bases and Mattson capped the inning with another RBI single that stretched the lead to 11-2.

“It was a full team effort,” Roundtree said. “Everybody played and everybody contributed.”

Mattson finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs in continuing her dominant season at the plate.

Burns Commands the Circle

While the offense made headlines, Sarah Burns turned in a gem from the circle. The junior tossed a complete game, allowed just one earned run and struck out seven. She retired the side in order twice and closed the door with her final strikeout to end the game.

“We really needed Sarah to find her rhythm,” Roundtree said. “She’s had kind of a mental block, and she came through today. All the work she’s been putting in showed.”

Newberry starting pitcher Sarah Burns is dealing! Through five innings, she’s racked up six strikeouts. She ended the top of the fifth throwing the runner out at first after two strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/IKSO7pLJIM

— Tyler Brodie (@TTyler60231) April 14, 2025

Up Next

Newberry (14-3) will look to avenge its 13-5 loss to Williston when the teams meet again Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. — this time on the road. P.K. Yonge (10-11) will try to bounce back Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Bradford.