PNC won game one 3-0 but lost game two in extra innings 2-1.
Before the game, the team took time to honor their four seniors on the team.
Karissa Inglis is a 2010 CCAC first team all-conference player. Inglis was a four year starter for the program having her junior year cut short due to injury. A multi-position athlete, Inglis is best known for her unique style of pitching and her power hitting. She will be missed not only on the field but in the office behind the scenes where she took care of many day-to-day chores for the team.
Lindsay Gernenz is a three time all conference player and well on her way to a fourth all conference title. A natural first baseman, Gernenz was moved to third to help the team when injury took out key players. Lindsay stepped up to the challenge and became a solid player at third base. Her hitting continues to improve having solid numbers and currently sits two home runs away from tying the team record. Gernenz's on field leadership will be greatly missed.
Megan Olson is a 2011 second team all-conference player. Speed is what comes to mind when you think of Megan. Known to the team as "MO", her quick skills and speed have helped her get on base on numerous times. Her ability also allows her to turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. This year, her speed also helped her achieve one of her goals of hitting a home run. Olson's speed allowed her to push past third and slide into home for an in-the-park homerun. Her quickness will be missed in the outfield as well as she has been the anchor in center field the past three years.
Brittani Cain is the final senior being honored. Cain will be missed for her unique style of leadership on and off the field. Plagued by injury for the last two seasons, Cain helped motivate and "coach" the team to keep them in the game and to strive to be better. When asked about Brittani, Coach Boardman has no doubt that Cain will become an excellent softball coach in the near future.
Karissa Inglis got things started for PNC in the second inning of game one with a single that drove in Hillary Hoffman giving the Panthers the lead 1-0. Hoffman scored again in the fifth inning on another Inglis at bat. Inglis was then driven in on a single by Brittani Cain increasing the Panthers lead 3-0.
Jaci Williams started for the Panthers pitching five complete innings allowing three hits, four walks and striking out four. Inglis completed the game for PNC going the final two innings allowing one hit, walking one and striking out two.
Brittani Cain received the only RBI of the game with her one hit while the rest of the team added nine more hits pushing the runners around the bases. Megan Olson, Lindsay Gernenz, Karissa Inglis, and Jaci Williams all earned two hits a piece while Hillary Hoffman added one respectively.
The Panthers continued their hitting ways in game two when Lindsay Gernenz hit a double in the first inning, moved along with a single by Sam Jones and scored on a single by Hillary Hoffman giving PNC the lead 1-0. PNC held the lead until the top of the fifth inning when Cardinal Stritch was able to push one across the plate tying the game at one. It was a back and forth defensive battle pushing the game into extra innings. The winning run came in the top of the tenth inning off a strong hit up the middle that allowed the winning run to score for the Wolves.
Jaci Williams started once again for PNC pitching 5 complete innings allowing one unearned run on two hits, striking out three. Karissa Inglis took over in the sixth inning, and pitched the final five innings allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out three.
Hoffman once again had a strong performance with four hits and the only RBI of the game for PNC. Sam Jones added three hits to the game while Inglis and Gernenz had two apiece. Sandi Downs and Brittani Cain rounded out the 13 hit game with a hit each.
The Panthers improve to 22-27 on the year and 7-9 in the CCAC. PNC will host Grace College, Wednesday, April 25th at 3:00pm.
