The win advances EP into a showdown Tuesday afternoon against highly seeded Riverdale at the Alleman softball complex in Moline.
The Titans got on the board in their first at bat off Panther starter Ayden Klendworth but EP came right back with two of their own to win the inning. Laken Renkes led off with a double and Chloe Hamilton followed with an RBI single and moved to third on an overthrow. Ava Grawe put EP on top with a sac fly to center.
After Klendworth struck out the side in the second, EP got two more runs on back-to-back doubles by Klendworth and Wynn Renkes and a single by Alyssah Padia.
The Lady Titans were hitless in the third and fourth innings and the hosts tacked on five more runs in their fourth to open up the wide margin. Wynn Renkes led off with a home run to left. Leah Richmond reached on a shortstop error and Laken, Chloe and Ava all singled to plate three more. Isabella Olvera topped off the inning with an RBI single to right.
M-R scored single runs in the fifth and sixth before Kaycee Russell relieved Klendworth in the seventh to close the contest facing the minimum.
Klendworth gave up 6 hits in her start along with 2 earned runs and struck out 5. Hamilton led the Panther hitting attack with 3 hits, while the Renkes sisters and Lilly Swatos each had 2. Grawe led the Panthers with 4 RBIs. EP pounded out 15 hits including 3 doubles and a triple.
Head Coach Jessie Russell was encouraged by her squad’s aggressive hitting. ”We are in a good mindset right now and will need to continue tomorrow against a strong Riverdale squad.”
Game time for the 16-11 Panthers is 4:30 at the Alleman complex.
