NORFOLK - The Norfolk Panthers utilized strong pitching and aggressive hitting to sweep a double-header over Kearney on Tuesday night. 

The Panthers took game one 9-1 in five innings, jumping out to a 6-0 lead by the end of the third frame. Norfolk again got out to a hot start in game two, as senior Sydney Rader drove in two runs on a double in the bottom of the fourth, increasing Norfolk's early lead to 4-1.

After Kearney scored another run in the top of the third, the Panthers would extend their lead in a big way in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners on, two out, and facing a 3-2 count, junior Makenna Waldow blasted a three-run home run to straightaway center field, increasing the Norfolk advantage to 7-2.

From there, Sydney Rader would control the rest of the game from the pitcher's circle. In all, Rader allowed two runs and struck out twelve different batters in a dominant pitching performance on senior parent's night.

The wins improved Norfolk to 12-9 on the season, and they will head to Lincoln on Thursday for a double-header against Lincoln High. Kearney has now lost its last four games and will look to turn things around with a matchup against McCook this Thursday.

GAME 1:

KEAR 0 0 0 1 0  1  (12-4)
NOR  5 1 0 0 3  9  (11-9)

GAME 2:

KEAR 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2  (12-5)
NOR  2 2 3 0 1 0     8  (12-9)