LADY PANTHER SOFTBALL DEFEATS FRANKLIN IN TOURNAMENT PLAY 6-5

The Burton Lady Panther Softball Team picked up their second straight win in the Franklin Tournament with a 6-5 victory on Friday against the host team, the Franklin Lady Lions.

Franklin got on the scoreboard early with a run in the top of the first inning, and three more in the top of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Burton got one of the runs back in the bottom of the third inning. Melanie Wood drew a walk to lead off the frame. She tagged up, and moved to second on a fly ball to right, then she later advanced to third on a groundout. Lexi Broesche reached on an error that allowed Wood to come home and score the first Lady Panther run, which cut the lead to 4-1.

When Burton came up again in the bottom of the fourth inning, they had their biggest scoring output with five runs. Natalie Hodde was hit by a pitch, and Amaya Williams slugged a two-run homer to make it a one-run game 4-3.

Paige Fritsch drew a walk, stole second, and went to third when on a catcher overthrow. She then scored on an RBI single by Laci Broesche to tie the game 4-4.

Leilah Ellis drew a walk. On an error by the second baseman, Laci Broesche came in to score and give Burton a 5-4 lead. Later in the inning, with Lexi Broesche batting, an error by the shortstop allowed Ellis to score and increase the Lady Panther lead to 6-4.

Franklin got one more run in the top of the fifth on a couple of Burton errors and a wild pitch to make it a 6-5 game. However, Lexi Broesche would come back and get the final two outs to seal the win.

The Franklin Tournament continues today (Saturday) with Burton playing Troy and Smithville.

HITTING

Amaya Williams 1-2 two-run homer

Paige Fritsch 1-1 double, walk, run

Laci Broesche 1-2 single, run, RBI

PITCHING

WP Lexi Broesche 5 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's