NRHEG Softball Wins in Seventh; Panther Baseball Loses in Ninth

The Panther softball team celebrated a walk-off 3-2 win over Maple River while their diamond counterparts lost a 6-5, nine-inning decision at Mapleton on Tuesday.

NRHEG softball scored a single run in the first. The teams traded runs over the third and fourth innings and the game was tied at 2-2. In the last of the seventh, Grace Johns doubled in Rachel Collins for the win. Coach Wendy Schultz said, "Johns played a great game both offensively and defensively. She was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple." Schultz added, "Defensively she was tough on the corner with six putouts and five assists."

Natalie Aaseth earned the victory. She struck out five, allowed four hits and one earned run.

Schultz concluded, "It was a great team win. The girls played very well defensively, committing only one error. We've been on the losing end of about six close games. It was nice to finally come out of top. I'm very proud of the way the girls played."

NRHEG (4-9, 3-6 Gopher Conference) plays at Medford on Thursday, May 11, at 5PM.

The Panthers baseball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first at Maple River, but scored just one more time in the 6-5, nine-inning loss. Jack Schultz had a two-run double in the opening frame. The Eagles pulled even at 4-4 in the bottom of the second.

NRHEG retook the lead in the fifth on another RBI by Schultz. The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the inning. The scored remained 5-5 until Maple River scored in the ninth. Coach Drew Paukert indicated the Panthers had their chances to take the lead, "Overall this game could have gone either way. We were a hit away from scoring runs in four innings when we had a guy on third and didn't score."

NRHEG (5-9, 3-6 Gopher Conference) will host Medford on Thursday.