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Newberry Panthers win 14-13 over the Hawthorne Hornets in the eighth inning
The Panthers with a .500 record welcomed the visiting Hornets on this beautiful Thursday night girls’ softball matchup. It was clear skies and 82 degrees at first pitch but cooled off into the 70s as the sun went down. The temperature may have cooled down, but offenses cranked it up as the game progressed.
“You just keep it up in the dugout and it’s all good.”-Lauren Heitzler
First Four Innings
Hawthorne got off to a 2-1 lead after the first inning and held it through the second. During the third inning, the Hornets managed to net two baserunners in Madisyn Gillins and Kaelyn Williams. An error by Panther third basemen Hollie Pabst resulted in one run scored. Later an RBI single by Sarah Morgan brought two more runs home for Hawthorne. Newberry responded with two runs by Malana Kennard and Paige Bankston. In the fourth, the Hornets extended their lead again thanks to an RBI double by Williams. At the bottom of the fourth Newberry rallied with four runs to tie the game at seven.
Hollie Pabst with the 3 run RBI hit to close the Panther deficit!! pic.twitter.com/7jLuAL7m4Y
— Alex Washburn (@alex_washburn20) March 24, 2023
Next Three Innings
The Hornets went scoreless at the top of the fifth while the Panthers took the lead during the bottom half of the inning. The run was thanks to Lauren Heitzler. Hawthorne responded in a big way during the sixth by scoring five runs. This was helped by four Newberry errors in the inning. Newberry went scoreless in the bottom of the sixth. Hawthorne got another run during the seventh making their lead 13-8 only needing three more outs. Lauren Heitzler led off the inning and got on base with a single. Hawthorne would then walk two batters and commit two error triggering a massive Panther rally. Newberry managed to tie the game after a two RBI single by Danielle Oliveira.
Madison Krecker with a huge strikeout giving Newberry a chance to win in the eighth! pic.twitter.com/q5H4W7dnRN
— Alex Washburn (@alex_washburn20) March 24, 2023
Extra Inning
Tied at 13, the game went into an extra eighth inning. Panthers starting pitcher Madison Krecker stayed in the game and shutout the Hawthorne side. During the bottom half of the eighth, Heitzler again lead off and drilled a flyball over the left fielder’s head to the fence. Heitzler was able to settle in to second base. Cayla Phillips came up to bat for the Panthers and bunted down the ball to move the runner to third. Hornet catcher Synteria Williams threw the ball to first for a sure out, but the throw went wide of the first baseman. Heitzler took off after the error and came home for the game winning run.
Newberry wins 14-13 in eight innings after a Hawthorne error brings a Panther runner from second home!! pic.twitter.com/bzoWK3rJaQ
— Alex Washburn (@alex_washburn20) March 24, 2023
Player stats
Newberry Sophmore Malana Kennard went 1-2 with two walks, reach base off an error, four runs and one strikeout.
Newberry Senior Lauren Heitzler went 2-4 with a hit by pitch, one strikeout, and game winning run.
Hawthorne Junior Syteria Williams went 2-5 with 2 RBI, reaching base off a fielder’s choice and scoring three runs.
