Pekin softball advances with comeback win

TIPTON — Entering Friday nights Class 2A Region 7 matchup, Pekin had not won a game through the regular season.

Everything came to fruition for the Panthers against Tipton (0-21) in the opening round bout as they were winners 7-5.

It wasn’t an easy road as the Panthers trailed for over five innings.

Tipton opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, but the Panthers were quick to strike back with a run themselves in the top half of the second.

After a third inning that saw zero runs from both sides, the Tigers took the lead once again with three runs in the fourth making it 4-1.

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Despite the deficit, Pekin didn’t get discouraged and stayed poised at the plate.

The Panthers went on to knock in two runs in the fifth to make it a one run game and then put together the highest scoring frame of the night with four in the sixth to give itself a 7-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Tipton scored one in the sixth, but that proved to be the final run of the game.

Pekin sat down Tipton in the seventh to survive and advance.

Leading the Panthers in the game was freshman Payten Coleman who finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Kendyl Noel went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Quinnlyn Baker had one RBI.

Myah Bainbridge, Sadie Sieren and Anna Hadley all notched two hits in the win. Katelynn Schultz finished with one.

Addison Smith and Ezra Parsons both pitched for the Panthers. The duo gave up a combined five runs (one earned) on five hits, eight walks and 10 strikeouts.

The Panthers (1-19) will take on No. 1 and defending state champion Regina Catholic (24-8) in the second round on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Iowa City.