The EP offense has averaged 16 runs over their past five wins. The hard hitting Panthers found plenty of holes in the Lady Red Devil defense as they collected 13 hits in just three innings of work.
A base hit from Chloe Hamilton was followed by a hustle double from Isabella Olvera to start the Lady Panther offense in the first. A base hit from Lilly Swatos scored the first Panther run. With two on and two out, Wynn Renkes smashed a two-run double to the left-center field gap to make it 3-0 EP. Renkes scored on an attempted steal of second by Eden Jensen, as the catcher delivered an offline throw to give the home team a 4-0 lead after one.
Ayden Klendworth started in the circle for EP collecting four strikeouts in the first two innings, getting out of a bases loaded jam in the second after walking two hitters.
The Lady Panther offense went full bore in the second as they platted 11 runs. Leah Richmond started the Panther inning with a leadoff double. Laken Renkes followed with a slap hit single to short beating out the throw and advancing to second on defensive indifference. A walk to Hamilton loaded the bases with Olvera driving in two on a base hit to left. Swatos looped a single over the first baseman’s head scoring two more to put EP up 8-0. Klendworth drew a walk and another bloop single, this time by Wynn Renkes, and a steal of home by courtesy runner Kennedy Vancil made it 10-0. A walk to Leah Richmond once again loaded the bases causing the Lady Red Devils to make a pitching change.
With one out, Laken Renkes hit a sacrifice fly to left to score EP’s eleventh run. Hamilton walked for the third time in the game to load the bags for Olvera. She smacked her third hit of the game and drove in two more to make it a 13-0 contest. Swatos followed with her second hit of the game driving in a run and Klendworth collected a third consecutive single to put EP up 15-0 after two innings.
Kaycee Russell took over the pitching duties for the Lady Panthers to start the third. She was greeted by a single followed a misplayed ball that scored a run and put a runner at third. She got out of the inning with a strikeout and a pair of pop-ups on the infield.
In the Panther half of the third, a walk and a hit by pitch put the EP offense in business again. Laken Renkes legged out an infield hit and Hamilton drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Olvera collected her fifth and sixth RBIs of the game with a single to make it 18-1 and end the game via run rule.
Klendworth got the win throwing just two innings allowing 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, and striking out 4.
The Lady Panther offense pounded out 13 hits, including 3 doubles, and collected 9 walks. Olvera went 4 for 4 driving in 6 and Lilly Swatos had 3 hits and drove in 4.
EP improves to 14-10 and will host Morrison on Thursday.
