Panther softball comes up short

BURLINGTON — It hasen’t been the start to the season that the Mt. Pleasant softball team would have liked, but that doesn’t mean they wont battle every chance they get.

On Thursday, the Panthers took on Southeast Conference leader Burlington in a doubleheader.

With just one win on the season, Mt. Pleasant was undoubtedly the underdogs. Despite the narrative, the Panthers gave the Grayhounds everything they had, but came up short in each of the two games, 7-6 and 17-0.

In game one, the Panthers were on the verge of a huge upset against the Grayhounds, but after leading for three innings Burlington turned it on late to pull out a win.

Mt. Pleasant was in control for the majority of the contest.

Following a 1-1 first inning, Mt. Pleasant jumped out to an 4-1 lead in the top of the second.

The Panthers added two more in the third. Savana Walls hit a single and Jersey Beachy a double, followed by a hit from Saige Burchett that brought both across home plate, giving the Panthers a 6-1 advantage.

The third inning would be the final time the Panthers brought anyone home in the game. As for Burlington, the Grayhounds would score in all but one of the next five innings.

Burlington scored once in the fourth, the sixth and twice in the seventh to send the game to extra innings, 6-6.

Mt. Pleasant had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh, but following a two-out walk and a wild pitch the Grayhounds were able to stay alive.

Following the Panthers last run in the third, their offense went stagnant.

In extra innings it was the same, as Mt. Pleasant went three up and three down.

After a walk, an out and an errant throw to first the Grayhounds were set up in scoring position at first and third.

With Burlington at the top of the order, an intentional walk loaded the bases. The Panthers gave up a free base once again, giving the Grayhounds the win.

The Panthers tallied seven hits in the first game. Kynlee White finished with a pair of hit and an RBI. Saige Burchett had a hit and two RBIs. Ella McNamee also had a hit and an RBI. Jayden Housh ended with a single hit and RBI. Jersey Beachy and Bethany Drury both had one hit. Emma Starr finished with one RBI.

Ella McNamee and Madison Helling both pitched for the Panthers in the loss.

The Grayhounds carried the first games momentum into the second, as it was all Burlington.

Burlington scored three runs in the first inning and scored a whopping 14 in the second to end the game in three innings.

With the pair of losses, the Panthers fall to 1-10 on the season and 0-8 in the SEC.