The Panthers softball team managed to bounce back from last Tuesday’s loss with a sweep of the Baldwin Bulldogs on April 24.

The Panthers won the first game 15-0 behind some good pitching from senior Mallorie Nelson, (one hit allowed in five innings pitched) and the second game 19-3 with some help from Nelson and freshman Lyndsee Johnson at the plate (8-9, BB, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 6R).

Senior Cheyenne Rankin led the first game off with a homerun way over the leftfield fence. Paola added a three-run homerun from junior Molli Morgan and another run to have a five-run first inning.

Nelson managed to keep the Bulldogs off the base paths and the scoreboard, allowing only two players to reach base all game.

Paola put across eight more runs in the top half of the fifth to push the lead above the run rule, ending the game after Nelson struck out the side in the bottom portion of the inning.

The night kept getting worse for the Bulldogs as Paola won the second game 19-3.

The Panthers scored two in the top of the first and added three more runs in the second, building up a quick lead.

Baldwin showed signs of life, though, when the first two batters in the second reached on a pair of hits. The players would come around and score on a balk and a wild pitch, but those were the only two runs Morgan would give up in her three innings pitched.

Paola put any doubts of a Baldwin comeback aside by scoring seven runs in the top of the third, extending the lead to 10.

Sophomore Kaelah McMullin pitched the final two innings, giving up one run.

The game was shortened due to the run rule and the Panther’s its 13th game of the season.

Paola plays at home Thursday April 26 against Spring Hill.

Game 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Paola 5 1 1 0 8 x x 15
Baldwin 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0

R H E
Paola 15 17 0
Baldwin 0 1 3

Batting
1. RF Rankin- 2-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, 2R
2. SS Johnson- 2-4, RBI, 2R
3. 2B Harris- 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2R
4. P Nelson- 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2RBI, 2R
5. 3B Morgan- 1-4, HR, 3RBI, R
6. 1B Staats- 2-4, RBI, 2R
7. CF Taylor- 3-4, 2R
8. DH McMullin- 1-2, BB, RBI, R
9. LF Ozier- 1-3, 3B, 3RBI, R
DNH C Hill

Pitching
1. Nelson- 5IP, 0R, H, BB, 8K

Game 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Paola 2 3 7 4 3 x x 19
Baldwin 0 2 0 1 0 x x 3

R H E
Paola 19 21 0
Baldwin 3 7 3

Batting
1. 1B Rankin- 3-4, 2 2B, BB, 3RBI, 3R
2. SS Johnson- 4-4, BB, 4RBI, 4R
3. 2B Harris- 0-5, R
4. RF Nelson- 4-5, 2 2B, 6RBI, 2R
5. P Morgan- 3-4, 3RBI, R
6. 3B Staats- 2-4, 2B, 2RBI
7. CF Taylor- 1-4, 2B, R
8. DH McMullin- 2-3, BB, RBI, 4R
9. LF Ozier- 2-3, BB, 3R
DNH C Hill

Pitching
1. Morgan- 3IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 2K
2. McMullin- 2IP, R, ER, 3H, BB, 2K