PAULDING – Host Paulding scored six times in the bottom of the first and the Lady Panthers advanced to sectional final action with a 15-9 Division III sectional semifinal victory over Delphos Jefferson on Tuesday.
Megan Tope had four singles and drove in three runs to lead the Lady Panther offense, which totaled 16 hits in all.
Jalynn Parrett added three singles for the maroon and white with Ashlynn Rice, Leigha Egnor and Audrey Manz all recording two hits.
Gabbie Stallbaum, Asia Arellano and Haylee Dominique picked up the remaining hits for the maroon and white. Egnor and Arellano each drove in a pair of runs as well for Paulding while Grace Tuttle scored three times.
Parrett, Arellano, Dominique and Manz all scored twice for Paulding.
Delphos Jefferson opened the game with three runs in the top of the first but the Panthers quickly responded.
Paulding got six in the home half of the first and followed that up with one in the second and three in the third for a 10-3 lead.
After the Panthers expanded the lead to 12-4 at the end of four frames, the Wildcats sliced the deficit to 12-9 with a five run fifth.
However, the maroon and white ended any doubt with a single run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth to set the final margin at 15-9.
Manz picked up the win on the mound for the Lady Panthers, pitching 4-2/3 innings with four strikeouts.
