Softball continues winning ways

By: Tom Albano

Posted: 4/28/09

The Panthers traveled to Bourbonnais, IL on Thursday to take on the Olivet Nazarene Tigers. Olivet did not play the friendly host as they beat PNC 5-4 in the first game and 4-1 in the second game. The losses drop the Panthers to 22-20 on the season and 6-8 in the conference.

Senior Jessica Brannagan led the Panthers offensively in the first game going 2 for 3 with a single and her first collegiate homerun. Freshman Karissa Inglis also went 2 for 3 with 2 singles and classmate Sam Michalski went 2 for 3 with a single and a triple. Rookie Brittany Bridges pitched 6 innings allowing 5 runs off of 4 Tiger hits. Bridges recorded 4 strikeouts on the day and walked just 1 batter.

In the second game the Panthers were held to 5 hits of which 2 came from Freshman Megan Olson. Olson was 2 for 2 with a single and a double. Freshmen Sam Michalski and Brittani Cain each had a single for the Panthers, as did Senior Betsy Maher in her first game back from a knee injury. Freshman starter Karissa Inglis pitched 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 2 and walking 1. Senior pitcher Alissa Whitaker gave up 3 hits in relief.
The Panthers will have the weekend off before getting back to the action on Monday, April 20 at St. Francis in Fort Wayne, IN. The double header will start at 2 p.m.

A day before, the Panthers took to the diamond Wednesday and played in a CCAC doubleheader against Judson University. PNC lost the first game 4-3 but came back strong in the second game to win 6-2 and salvage a split. The Panthers moved to 22-18 on the year and 6-6 in CCAC action.

In game one the PNC bats could only manage 4 hits to help freshman pitcher Karissa Inglis. Senior Tracy Markwell and Freshman Sam Michalski each had singles while Senior Melissa Carson had a double and Inglis had a triple. Inglis pitched 6 innings giving up 5 hits, 4 runs and walking 1 batter.

Game two was a different story for the Panthers offensively as they exploded for 6 runs. Senior Jessica Branngan led the Panthers attack going 2 for 3 with two singles. Freshman Lindsay Gernenz went 3 for 4 with three singles while Carson added two singles as well. Freshman Brittany Bridges pitched the complete game and gave up two runs on only three hits. The hurler did not walk a Judson player.