Early Struggles Doom Panthers in State Quarters

Sophomore shortstop Jordan Stephenson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Nicole Braun added two hits and two runs, but the fourth-seeded softball team could not climb out of an early hole and fell 8-5 to fifth-seeded Watchung Hills Thursday in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA North 2, Group IV quarterfinals at North Bridge Street Field.

IN SHORT

Watchung Hills exploded for two runs in the first inning and four more in the second off Panthers starter Alicia Gonnella.

Bridgewater-Raritan got a run in the bottom of the first on a Megan Colline RBI single, and cut a 6-1 deficit to 6-4 with three more in the bottom of the second, highlighted by RBI singles by Nicole McClelland and Stephenson.

The Panthers got to within a run at 6-5 on Stephenson’s RBI single in the fourth, but that was all the team could muster against Watchung Hills senior righty Grace Hurley before being eliminated from the state tournament.

Colline pitched the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two sixth-inning runs.

PANTHER OF THE GAME

Jordan Stephenson—The sophomore singled three times and drove in two runs for the Panthers.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Nicole Braun—The sophomore singled, doubled, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs.

Bri Jordan—The senior third baseman finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Nicole McClelland—The center fielder singled in a run and later scored during the Panthers’ three-run second inning

THEY SAID IT

“I didn’t think we would have this type of season—making the county final, coming within two outs from beating Hillsborough and winning it. I knew we would have a good team, but I still thought we were one year removed.”—Head Coach Sandy Baranowski on her team surpassing expectations for the season, despite Thursday’s loss.

UP NEXT—A well-deserved break, as the Panthers wrapped up the 2011 season Thursday