LINCOLN – Brynn Peterson hit two home runs and drove in five as Norfolk rallied and opened district play with a 9-6 win over Papillion-La Vista South Wednesday in Lincoln.
Peterson blasted a three-run homer in the fifth before following it up with a two-run homer in the sixth.
Papillion-La Vista South got on the board first in the bottom of the second after Chyler Hoke singled to score a run and Emersyn Exner scored three runs on a homer to left.
After Norfolk plated a run in the top of the fourth on a Liberty Nohr double, Hoke would homer again for Papillion-La Vista South in the bottom of the inning, this time a two-run blast to left field.
Norfolk was able to tie the game up at six in the top of the fifth thanks to Peterson’s three-run blast and a two-RBI double by Nohr before Peterson’s two-run shot in the sixth gave the Panthers’ the lead at 8-6.
Norfolk would tack on an insurance run in the top of the seventh thanks to a sac fly from Rory Vrbsky before a strikeout and two fly outs in the bottom of the seventh sealed the Norfolk win.
Taya Frederick pitched 5.1 innings of relief for Norfolk, surrendering two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in the process.
Carlie Brandt started things off for Norfolk in the pitcher’s circle, allowing four unearned runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched.
Norfolk tallied 11 hits in the contest, with Nohr, Peterson and Brooklyn Branz each collecting two hits on the day.
The Panthers will be back in district action today at 1 against Lincoln Southwest. Should they lose, they will face Papillion-La Vista South in an elimination game at 3. Should Norfolk win, they will face the winner of Lincoln Southwest/Papillion-La Vista South in the championship at 5.