The NRHEG High School softball team nearly brought back a win in Coy Hupfeld’s varsity coaching debut, falling one out short in a 9-8 loss to Bethlehem Academy at Faribault Monday, April 16.
If the game was any indication of what to expect for the season, Panther fans can expect to see plenty of offense.
NRHEG took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but that was quickly erased as the Cardinals tied it in the bottom of the first and took a 3-2 lead in the second.
The Panthers put three more runs on the board in the top of the third and sixth innings and took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
“Kelli Harrington and Kayley Camerer scattered the ball all over the diamond and that really gave our offense a spark,” said Hupfeld. “I thought our baserunning was the key to us regaining the lead.”Defense also helped. In the sixth, Anna Stork made a spectacular catch to preserve the lead.
BA won it with three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
“Credit has to go to Faribault,” said Hupfeld. “We put ourselves in a good position to win, but in the seventh inning the bottom of their lineup pulled through while we were one play away from a win.”
For the game, Camerer was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Harrington 3-for-4 with one run, Stork 2-for-4 with two runs, Torrie Stencel 2-for-4 with one run, Jade Peterson 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Grace Johns and Alyssa Esplan contributed one hit apiece.
Sophomore Anna Lundberg pitched all seven innings for the Panthers, She allowed five earned runs on nine hits, with eight strikeout and six walks in seven innings.
The Panthers were rained out Thursday, April 9 against Blooming Prairie. They faced WEM Monday, April 13 and play Thursday, April 16 at home against LCWM and Friday, April 17 at Blue Earth Area. Game time is 5 p.m.