BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

A hunch by Great Bend softball coach Shawn Behr proved to be pure gold.

Pinch-hitter Rydlie Swanson delivered a game-winning double to spark the Panthers past Pratt 6-4 in Thursday's opening game. Katherine Mazouch singled home Mikayla Minton for a valuable insurance run 

Panther pitcher Chayla Prendergast (4-0, 1.46 ERA) was rocked by Pratt's Mica Stapleton for a 3-run homer and Bolen added a home run. Prendergast struck out nine batters and has 28 strikeouts in 24 innings.

Stapleton's homer scored Addison Sowers and Savannah Copus. Kya Behr doubled home Camden Post, Alyssa McCauley's double scored Katherine Mazouch and Behr scored on a Callie Umphres double for a 3-3 tie.

Bolen's fifth-inning homer was matched by Mazouch's fifth-inning round-tripper.

Denver Ringo singled off Pratt pitcher Copus in the sixth inning. With two out, Swanson pinch hit for Minton and doubled. Mazouch's single scored Minton.

PANTHERS, PRATT (G2) — 

Pratt 300 010 0 — 4 7 1

Great Bend 300 012 x — 6 9 1

Copus and Stapleton. Prendergast and Koelsch. W—Prendergast, 4-0. L—Copus, 1-1. 2B—GB—Behr, Umphres. HR—GB—Mazouch; P Stapleton, Bolen.

Pratt 0

Great Bend 5

Winklepleck and Stapleton. Turner and Koelsch. 2B—GB—McCauley, Koelsch; P—Copus.

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