Lady Panthers remain perfect with sweep

Lack of experience hasn't been a problem for the Maxwell High softball team this season and Friday was no different.

The Panthers swept Liberty Christian in impressive fashion during a doubleheader in Maxwell to remain undefeated despite just five upperclassmen on the roster.

After a 13-3 victory in the first game, Maxwell (11-0, 4-0 Five Star) roasted the Patriots 15-4 with a 16-hit effort to back up their under-the-weather starting pitcher Allison Costa.

Playing as the visiting team on its home field for the second game of the twinbill, Maxwell erupted for nine runs in the top of the third inning and erased Liberty Christian's hope for a split.

The Panthers sent 14 hitters to the plate in the third inning and collected eight hits. In the inning Andi Robledo singled twice, Ashley Azevedo hit a two-run triple, Searah Robertson doubled to left field and Miller hit a two-run single.

"We have a really good system with our small-ball hitters and our outfield hitters, and we really work well together," Maxwell first baseman Alexz Miller said.

The Patriots (2-7, 0-3 Five Star) struggled to defend drag bunts and slap hits from the Maxwell offense, and when the defense collapsed in, the Panthers sent the ball into the outfield.

Ten different Maxwell batters had a hit and 11 reached base as the Panthers scored in all five innings.

"We actually have a really strong team this year, we have a lot of people that are freshman but they still are able to play infield and outfield. That really helps us because we have backups for everyone," Miller said.

Jessie Otterson singled, stole a base and scored on a hit by Robertson in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Costa hit a two-run single and Brittney Haywood drove in Madison Wells with a single for a 15-3 lead. The Patriots scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to close out the scoring.

Costa allowed 10 hits in five innings but never allowed more than one run in an inning while battling through an illness.

The Panthers rallied behind Costa and were motivated by the memory of basketball season when the Patriots won both meetings between the two teams.

"We expected it was going to be hard and we play every game like we're going to lose, so we play our hardest and it seems to work for us," said Maxwell third baseman Jenna Powell.

Powell, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, said the team started a little slowly in the first game but got into their zone in the second.

"We really work well together, our group, there's no problems with us, we're all friends and it seems to help this year," Powell said.

Maxwell 13, Liberty Christian 3

The Panthers scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to invoke the 10-run rule in the first game of the doubleheader.

Azevedo drove in three runs on two doubles and a triple to drive the Maxwell offense. In two games Friday, the junior second baseman went 5-for-7 with two doubles, two triples and five RBIs.

Powell went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored; Miller connected for three hits and scored three runs; Robledo added two hits and three runs and Shelen Boyes went 2-for-2.

Costa struck out six and walked none in five innings to pick up the first of her two victories on the day.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.