Great Bend Panther Paige Thexton stayed red hot with a 3-run homer and 2-run double to spark a 16-2 Western Athletic Conference softball victory over Liberal at the Great Bend Sports Compex. Great Bend (6-1, 1-0 WAC) returns to Liberal Thursday for a twin bill.

After seven games, Kya Behr is batting .636, 14 for 24 and DeShawna Bryant is batting .476 (11 for 23).

The Panthers gave away two outs when Thexton and Behr stole home on double steals in an 8-run first inning. Ava Kaiser hit a 2-run double and Rylee Prilling singled home a run. Thexton's homer scored Prilling and Kaiser for an 8-0 lead.

McCauley started a 7-run second inning with an RBI single. Denver Ringo scored on a hit batter. McCauley scored on a passed ball. Thexton's double scored Prilling and Ava Kaiser for a 13-0 lead. Camdyn Post and Thexton scored on an error for a 15-0 lead.

Liberal's Lexi Miller doubled home two runs off pitcher McCauley (1-0), who struck out three batters. McCauley added the Panthers' final run with a home run.

Liberal 002 00 – 2 4 2

Great Bend 871 0x – 16 12 1

Janko, Torres (1) and Mannel. McCauley and Koelsch. W—McCauley, 1-0. 2B—GB—Kaiser, Camdyn Post, Bryant, Thexton; L—Miller. HR—GB—Thexton, McCauley.