Panthers splits softball season opener against Central Lee

PACKWOOD ? It was a tale of two games for the Pekin softball team in its season-opening double header against Central Lee Monday night.

The Panthers split with the Hawks by posting a 4-1 victory in the opener before giving up seven unearned runs and falling 10-3 in the nightcap.

In the 4-1 game one victory, sophomore Mackenzie Laux made her first appearance in the Panther pitching circle and picked up the win while allowing one unearned earned run on two hits with seven strikeouts. Along with game two pitcher Leslie Stone and two-time all-conference pitcher Mycaela Crouse, who has 98 career victories to her name, the Panthers figure to have a potent pitching staff to roll with all season.

Crouse was moved to first base for the opener due to injury, but her arm should see plenty of action in the coming weeks. While at first base, Crouse went 1-2 and scored two of Pekin?s four runs. Jessi Martin was 2-2 with an RBI and Kaitlin Spilman also had a multi-hit game while driving in two.

In game two, the Pekin defense committed nine errors that forced Stone to take the loss after giving up seven hits and striking out six in seven innings.

?With so many girls running at state track, then coming to school Monday, a long weekend turned into a long day and it caught up to us a little bit,? said Pekin head coach Bryan Marlay. ?We got two good starts out of our pitchers, but you can?t give a team nine extra outs.?

Three of the Pekin errors came in the first inning tha

t gave Central Lee a 3-2 advantage and a lead they would never surrender.

Dominique Tolle hit an RBI triple for Pekin as Shelby Blakely and Spilman each crossed the plate once.

Next up for Pekin (1-1) will be a trip to Wapello tonight to open the conference season.