HANOVER, Ind. – Freshman Nikki Bridgers hit her first career walkoff in extra innings to propel the Panthers to a split with non-conference foe Denison on Sunday afternoon. The Blue and Red (5-7 overall) took game one of the home opener 4-3 before dropping the nightcap at Kops-Bedel Stadium 11-3.

The Big Red struck first as they plated a run in the top of the first inning taking the 1-0 lead. The top of the second inning saw Denison plate another run as a single to the outfield sent another Big Red base runner across home plate.

Trialing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Hanover looked to rally with two outs as senior Shelby Edington (New Goshen, Ind.) singled before advancing to third off the bat of freshman Nikki Bridgers (Florence, Ky.). However, Denison was able to stifle the threat and strand the runners on the base paths.

The Panthers finally tallied a run in the bottom of the sixth inning as junior Lily Beurman (Evansville, Ind.) sent the ball on a rope to deep center before advancing to third off a freshman Kendra Hutchison (Lafayette, Ind.) hit to short stop. She would score on the next at bat as Edington singled charting her first RBI of the afternoon.

With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the seventh inning the Blue and Red delivered. Trialing 3-1, freshman Kensie Bradley (Greenfield, Ind.) stepped into the box drawing a leadoff walk before advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior Brittney Ralston (Hanover, Ind.). She scored off the bat of sophomore Kiley Shedron (Cloverdale, Ind.) who stepped to the plate for her first appearance of the afternoon, 3-2. The game tying run came off the bat of junior, pitcher, Beurman who doubled to the outfield.

In extra innings, Bridgers deemed clutch as she ripped the walk-off RBI to center field that scored Hutchison for the game winning run.

Hanover tallied four runs on nine hits paced by Bridgers, Edington, and Beurman with two hits apiece. In the circle, Beurman claimed her fourth win of the season pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts.

The night cap saw a Big Red offensive outburst as they surged ahead early using a five run first inning and a five run third inning to claim the commanding 11-0 lead.  

Hanover would get three back in the bottom half of the inning as they tallied three runs on three hits. Junior Mackenzie Smith (Jeffersonville, Ind.) opened the inning with a walk before a Beurman RBI single scored the Blue and Reds first run of the contest. Hutchison would reach first on the next at bat as she capitalized on a Denison error that placed runners on first and third. Smith scored off the bat of Edington who collected her first RBI of the game. The Panthers plated the final run by way of freshman Katherine Dickinson (Francisco, Ind.) who singled scoring Hutchison, 11-3.

In the circle, freshman Courtney Chookie (Warsaw, Ind.) got the start before surrendering the ball to freshman Paige Knowling (New Market, Ind.) who went 4 and a third innings with two strikeouts.

The Panthers return to action on Saturday, March 14 when they welcome non-conference foe Captial. First pitch is slated for noon.