By Jared Fields, Sports Writer

Wednesday evening the Wildcat softball team hosted a doubleheader against Panhandle State. The Wildcats rallied behind superior pitching to win by scores of 9-1 and 5-0.

Head coach Chantiel Wilson said she was pleased with her team’s play.

“I thought that our pitching was very good, and our offense and defense did well, too,” Wilson said.

In the first game, Jennifer Leal allowed only three hits and one run, improving to 4-1 on the year. The bats went to work early for the Wildcats. Katie Bryan hit a two-run home run in the 1st inning to give the Cats a 2-1 lead.

In the second, the offense put six runs on the board. Daisy Barcena had a two-run home run and Jade Wilson knocked in two runs with a double. The offense quieted down, and scored only one run before the game was over.

Allison Crouse started on the mound for the Cats in the second game. Crouse threw a complete game and allowed only three hits in the game. Once again the Wildcat bats put runs up early as they scored four runs in the first inning. Catcher Ashley Whittenburg had a two run single to lead the first inning rally. The Cats scored once more in the fourth off of a Katie Bryan single on their way to the shut out.

“Everyone did their job, and everything came together on the field,” Wilson said.

The sweep moved the Wildcats to a 6-4 overall record on the season. The Wildcats host the ACU Diamond Dame Classic this weekend at Wells Field. The Cats played two games Thursday.

Today the Wildcats play Nebraska-Kearney at 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday they play Fort Hays at 1 p.m. and SE Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m.

The weekend tournament will give the Cats a good early season challenge.

“This weekend’s games are going to really test our team,” Wilson said. “Some of these teams are just starting, so they’re fresh. The SE Oklahoma State game will be tough because they always finish at the top of the standings at the end of the season.”