Panthers top Challengers 9-4

The Wittenbach Panthers secured a 9-4 victory over the Challengers on the strength of a 13-hit offensive effort and 3.2 innings of strong relief from winning pitcher Michelle Zehnder. Zehnder allowed just one earned run while striking out four to cap off the win.

Wittenbach struck first in the top of the first inning when Kimberly Zehnder walked, stole second, and eventually stole home. The Challengers answered in the bottom half as Morris Schmidt scored on a fielder's choice. The Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Felicitas Schatton scored on a ground-rule double by Kimberly Zehnder. The Challengers tied the game in the third on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Tanja Neff and took a 3-2 lead in the fourth via an RBI double from Carmen Lutz-Demetz. Wittenbach answered back in the fifth inning, as Michelle Zehnder doubled and Josianne Entner followed with an RBI single to ignite the offense. The Panthers blew the game open with a four-run sixth inning, powered by a two-run single from Celina Schmid and back-to-back RBI singles by Michelle Zehnder and Entner. Morris Schmidt hit an RBI double for the Challengers in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 9-4, but Michelle Zehnder retired the side in order in the seventh to lock down the victory.