Panther softball drops doubleheader

Great Bend’s softball team was one play away from earning its first victory of the season. But Dodge City escaped with a hard-fought 8-7 victory by recording the final two outs. Dodge City (5-1, 3-1 WAC) swept Great Bend (0-8, 0-4 WAC) with a 8-2 victory.

DODGE CITY 8, PANTHERS 7 (G1) – Great Bend’s Paige Thexton do everything she could to deliver a victory with three doubles, four runs batted home and gutsy 7-inning pitching performance.

Thexton scored on an Analiz Rivas groundball for an 8-7 score. But Dodge City pitcher Macy Musslin retired Briley Richter and Lauryn Davis to strand Rivas on base with the tying run.

The Red Demons rallied from a 6-4 deficit when Tatum Steiner and Marisela Landa delivered RBIs for a 6-6 tie in the sixth inning. Brittany Lomas doubled home Addyson Froetschner and Arreana Rankin for an 8-6 lead in the seventh inning.

Thexton was the show for the Panthers. She doubled home Halle Post and Melyne Fletchall in the third inning. She ignited a 4-run fifth inning with a 2-run double to score Post and Fletchall. Richter singled home Thexton and DeShawnna Bryant for a 6-4 lead after five innings.

DODGE CITY 8, PANTHERS 2 (G2) – Thexton continued to spark the Panthers with a home run and a double in the second game. Lauren Davis scored the Panthers second run on Rylee Prilling’s fly ball that was misplayed.

Dodge City’s Tatum Steiner, Landa and Taryn Coon homered off Panther pitcher Jordan Turner.

Dodge City 100 302 2 – 8 10 4

Great Bend 002 040 1 – 7 8 2

Musslin and Steiner. Thexton and Davis. W—Musslin. L—Trhexton. 2B—GB—Thexton 3, Fletchall; DC—Lomas, Potts.

Dodge City 112 002 2 – 8 9 1

Great Bend 000 200 0 – 2 6 3

Ortiz and Steiner. Turner and Davis. W—Ortiz. L—Turner. 2B—GB—Thexton. HR—GB—Thexton; DC—Steiner, Landa, Coon.

WAC SOFTBALL

Garden City 1-0 3-2

Dodge City 3-1 5-1

Hays High 2-1 2-3

Liberal 1-1 5-1

Great Bend 0-4 0-8

TUESDAY—*Dodge City 16, Great Bend 6

THURSDAY—*Dodge City 8-7, 8-2 Great Bend; Liberal 20-3, 13-3 Sublette

GARDEN CITY (1-0, 3-2)—L Derby 6-10; WL Circle 5-1; 5-12; W Augusta 14-3; *W Hays 3-1; 4-19–*at Liberal (1); 4-21–*Liberal (2); 4-25–*Hays High (2); 4-25–Goodland (2); 4-26–*Great Bend (1); 4-28–*at Great Bend (2); 5-3–*at Dodge City (2); 5-5–*Dodge City (1); 5-6–at Emporia (2)

HAYS HIGH (2-1, 2-3)—L *Garden City 1-3; *Liberal 6-4; LL Abilene 8-9, 7-12; W *Dodge City 4-1; 4-19–*Great Bend (1); 4-21–*at Great Bend (2); 4-25–*at Garden City (2); 4-26–*at Dodge City (2); 4-28–at Hays-TMP (2); 4-29–Colby (2); 5-3–*Liberal (2); 5-10–at Andover Central (2)

LIBERAL (1-1, 5-1)—WW Ulysses 16-0, 16-0; L *Hays High 4-6; W *Great Bend 12-8; WW Sublette 20-3, 13-3; 4-19–*Garden City (1); 4-21–*at Garden City (2); 4-25–*Great Bend (2); 4-26–Hugoton (2); 4-28–at Scott City (2); 5-3–*at Hays High (2); 5-10–*at Dodge City (1); 5-12–*Dodge City (2)

DODGE CITY (3-1, 5-1)—WW Wichita South; L *Hays High 1-4; W *Great Bend 16-6; WW *Great Bend  8-7, 8-2; 4-19–at Kingman (2); 4-21–at Hays TMP (2); 4-26–*Hays High (2); 4-29–at Wichita Heights (2); 5-3–*Garden City (2); 5-5–*at Garden City (1); 5-10–*Liberal (1); 5-12–*at Liberal (2)

GREAT BEND (0-4, 0-8)—L Manhattan 3-17; L McPherson 0-26; L Valley Center 2-12; L Newton 7-24; L *Liberal 8-12; L *Dodge City 6-16; LL *Dodge City 7-8, 2-8; 4-19–*at Hays (1); 4-21–*Hays (2); 4-25–*at Liberal (2); 4-26–*Garden City (1); 4-28–*Garden City (2); 5-3–Hutchinson (2); 5-5–Hays TMP (2)