Back in the great outdoors

Trapped inside for a week because of the rain, the Panthers finally broke free in the sun and batted around against Hudson’s Bay for their first softball victory of the season.

Kayla Lagerquist got the party started with a grand slam in the top of the first inning. Paige Forsberg went 6-for-6 at the plate and drove in seven runs. She also pitched three shutout innings of relief.

“I was pretty impressed because we haven’t been outside much,” Forsberg said. “Just to be out on the field again was awesome.”

Forsberg led off the game with a hit. Josalyn Goodwin and Morgan Ratcliff walked to load the bases. Lagerquist stepped up to bat in a clutch situation and brought four Panthers home with one swing.

“I was really relaxed,” she said. “After the first game, I knew I just needed to wait on the ball, sit back and then I hit it over. It was a good moment for me to get it started here.”

Forsberg came up again with the bases loaded in the first inning and delivered a 2-run single. She also hit a 2-run double and another single in the second inning, bunted for a base hit and an RBI in the fourth inning and laced one more 2-run single in the fifth inning.

“We were a little bit anxious for the first game, but everybody adjusted and we were hitting the ball good in this one,” Forsberg said.

If the rain stays away, Washougal plays at Union Tuesday, March 28. The Panthers hope to be able to get on their home field for the first time this season after spring break.