Panthers tumble to Vikings 8-4 in regional tournament

ANDALE — Winfield scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning and then retired Concordia in order to capture an 8-4 victory in the opening round of the Class 4A regional softball tournament on Tuesday.
The game was tied at 4-4 through seven innings of play.
Winfield, the number 10 overall seed, put up four runs on five hits in the top half of the first extra inning to grab the 8-4 advantage.
Savanna Nickum recorded two strikeouts in setting down all three Concordia batters she faced in the bottom of the eighth.
Concordia, the seventh seed in the district, finishes up the season 11-8.
“We came a long way this year. We definitely improved as the year went along, and that is what we were looking for,” Concordia coach David Gieber said. “We have set a good base going forward. Obviously there was a few games we felt we should have won, but we were right with the best teams in the state. We are excited for next year and hope to take it to another level.”
Winfield advanced to the championship game of the regional tournament, and lost 10-0 to host Andale.
Andale, which knocked off Wellington 13-3 in the opening round, improved to 20-2 and qualified for the 4A state tournament to be played next week in Salina.
Winfield struck first in the game against Concordia with a run in the top of the first inning.
Crosby Curtis led off the game with a single. She advanced on an error and scored on an error.
“Our defense let us down early in the game,” Gieber said.
Concordia answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning.
Erinae Flesher singled with one out and Emalee Johnson walked.
An error on a ball hit by Shaelin Giersch allowed Flesher to score.
With the score still knotted at 1-1, Curtis walked to lead off the top of the third inning. She was able to score on an error to give Winfield a 2-1 cushion.
The Vikings upped the lead to 3-1 with a run in the top of the sixth inning.
Haley Sparks got things started with a single. Tessa Irwin singled and a base hit by Nickum drove in Sparks.
Concordia rallied to take a 4-3 lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Giersch doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Kenlee Williams.
Callie Parker tripled with one out to knock in Williams and then scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.
“I was proud of the way we battled back. The middle of the order came through in the sixth, giving us the lead,” Gieber said.
Curtis, who was 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, led off the top of the seventh inning for Winfield with a single. She scored on a fly ball by Sparks to tie the game at 4-4.
Nickum, who was on to pitch in relief of Irwin, retired the Panthers in order in the bottom of the seventh and the game went to extra innings.
Callie Ledford tripled leading off the top of the eighth for Winfield, and Mikayla Konrade reached on a bunt single.
Addison Sims singled to drive in two runs.
With one out, Lauren Howerton hit a two-run home run to put the Vikings up 8-4.
“Hanna Acree was really good through seven innings. It gets tough when you go into the eighth and batters are seeing you for the fifth time in the game,” Gieber said.
Nickum then set Concordia down in order in the bottom of the eighth to end the game.
“We just could not get the bats going in the seventh and eighth,” Gieber said.
Acree pitched all eight innings in taking the loss. She gave up eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits, struck out 13 and walked two.
Concordia scored four runs on five hits.