Staff report

Ellsworth softball picked up two wins last week but started this week with a loss, bringing the Panthers to 4-7 overall and 3-5 in Middle Border Conference play.

Ellsworth won an exciting game against Saint Croix Central last Tuesday. The game was tied 5-5 in the final inning when Brianna Giese knocked in the winning run.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard early, picking up a run in the first inning. The Panthers picked up three more runs in the second inning, but Saint Croix Central took a one-run lead into the seventh inning. Kallie Beissel tied the game with an RBI for Ellsworth.

Ellsworth had 13 hits on the day. Giese, Autumn Earney, Beissel and Shayla Gilbertson had multiple-hit days with Giese spearheading the attack (3-4) with two stolen bases.

The Panthers also were perfect in the field with no errors.

Molly Janke, Reese Nelson and Beissel shared pitching duties for the Panthers. Janke pitched the first inning. Nelson pitched the next three, while Beissel finished and allowed just one hit in 3-2/3 innings.

Late surge falls short

The Panthers scored five runs in the final three innings and outhit host Somerset by an 11-8 margin but lost, 8-6, in a Middle Border game Monday.

Somerset jumped out to a seven-run lead after two innings and the Panthers clawed their way back into the game but fell short.

Gilbertson and Sydney Bartels had two hits for the Panthers, and Gilbertson and Beissel each knocked in two runs on the day.

The Panthers host New Richmond at 5 p.m. Thursday and travel to Osceola Tuesday.