Despite outhitting Blue Earth by a 2-to-1 ratio the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva softball team fell 9-5 to the Buccaneers Monday in New Richland.

The Panthers (0-1) tallied 10 hits and stole seven bases, but couldn’t recover from an early deficit.

Blue Earth (1-1) took a 4-0 lead after the third inning and made it 8-0 after the top of the fourth.

NRHEG rallied for a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Buccaneers extended the lead to 9-1 in the top of the sixth.

The Panthers responded for three runs in the bottom half of the sixth and added a run in the seventh.

Eighth-grader Jade Schultz took the loss on the mound for NRHEG after giving up nine runs on five hits. Schultz walked 12 and struck out eight.

Freshman Tara Simon went 3-for-4 with two runs and three stolen bases for the Panthers while Schultz went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Kate Quam drove in two runs and finished 2-for-2 and Alyssa Hagen went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.

NRHEG faces Waseca Tuesday in New Richland.

Blue Earth 9, NRHEG 5

Blue Earth 004 401 0 — 9 5 0

NRHEG 000 103 1 — 5 10 1

WP—Megan Wirtjes 7 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

LP—Jade Schultz 7 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 12 BB, 8 K