The Lady Norse softball team opened up their 2023 season with a double header at home against Seward County on Sunday, February 12th. NEO's bats were hot right out of the gate with 15 total hits for game one. The Lady Norse had 10 singles, 4 doubles, and 1 home run through the first game. Sophomore Payton Compton was in the zone on Sunday, tallying four hits and leading NEO Lady Norse to a 12-3 win over Seward County Community College. Compton singled in the first, singled in the second, doubled in the fourth, and doubled in the sixth. NEO wasted no time getting things started in the first inning when Kendall Hannon singled on a 3-1 count, scoring Hadley Calico and Compton. The offense struck again in the bottom of the 3rd innings, scoring three runs on a Sydney Price homerun. NEO had a big five run inning in the sixth. The offensive firepower by NEO Lady Norse was led by Halle Panter, Sarah Campbell, Grace Goins, and Hope Gotes, all knocking in runs in the inning. Gotes had a walk-off 2 RBI single for her first collegiate hit as a Lady Norse. Sophomore pitcher Kayla Paulo earned the win for the NEO Lady Norse. The righty allowed six hits and three runs over five innings, striking out two. Freshman Halle Panter threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen, allowing no walks, hits, or runs in her college debut.
Game two did not end in NEO's favor. The Lady Norse lost despite out-hitting Seward County nine to eight. NEO lost the lead late in a 6-2 defeat. NEO evened things up at two in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kendall Hannon's sac fly scored Payton Compton, who was on with a leadoff double. The game was tied at two with Seward County Community College batting in the top of the sixth when an error scored one run for Seward County. Madison Lee went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Lady Norse in hits. Freshman Kalan Nye toed the rubber for NEO Lady Norse. The righty went five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out six and walking one. Halle Panter threw one and one-third innings in relief out of the bullpen.
