South Medford Panthers Softball 13-14 Bend

A wild offensive showcase ended with heartbreak for South Medford on Tuesday night, as the Panthers dropped a 14-13 slugfest to Bend in non-league softball action. The Medford, Oregon squad from the Southwest Conference (6A) traded blows with the Lava Bears in a game that featured 27 combined runs and numerous lead changes throughout the evening. South Medford's bats came alive after recent struggles, putting up their highest run total in weeks, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome Bend's explosive attack. The Panthers managed to keep pace in what became a marathon contest, with both teams finding success against opposing pitching staffs. Despite the narrow defeat, South Medford showed the kind of offensive firepower that could serve them well as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch. The loss drops the Panthers to 7-20 overall and 5-13 in conference play. South Medford will look to carry the positive offensive energy from this game into their upcoming contests as the regular season winds down.