Panther softball is on a hot streak.
On the week of March 23, they entered the heart of their conference schedule, playing Mountain Eight games with Tuscola and Brevard. In sweeping a two-game series and avenging an earlier loss, Franklin won their fifth straight game.
On March 23, they traveled to Tuscola to rehash an extra-inning loss in their season opener. There they seemed bent on revenge in the rematch, plating two runs in the first, four in the second and three in the third. They then exploded for 11 in the fifth, and went on to win 20-2.
Kendall Rumans led all Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Suzanna Cabe also scored four runs in a 4-for-5 day at the plate, and pitched a complete five-inning game on the mound.
The next night the team returned to Macon Middle School for the first of a two-game series with Brevard. There the Panthers stayed hot from the night before, batting around the order in the first. They turned three singles, seven doubles and several Blue Devil miscues into 12 runs.
Franklin heated back up in the third, scoring two more runs off four straight singles. Brevard responded with three runs in the fifth, but couldn’t stave off the 10-run rule and fell 14-3.
Ashlyn McConnell led all Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Cabe went 2-for-2 with a double at the plate, and tossed two innings of one-hit ball on the mound.
Three nights later the Panthers traveled to Brevard, taking another early lead with seven runs in the first two innings. They scored four more in the fifth to complete the sweep 11-2.
Five Panthers posted multiple hits in the game, including three RBIs apiece from Cabe, McConnell and Alyssa Awtrey. Cabe pitched another complete game on the mound.
With their fifth straight win including four in the Mountain Eight, Franklin improved their overall record to 8-2. With a 4-1 mark in the conference, they tied Pisgah for first place ahead of a series with the Black Bears March 31-April 2.