File photo – Raina Ausburn

The McKinleyville Panthers will carry some momentum into next week’s softball league opener against Eureka after a doubleheader sweep on Friday.

The Panthers defeated St. Helena 4-3 and Credo 12-2 in five innings to improve to 5-1 on the season.

Raina Ausburn pitched both wins, allowing just four hits and one walk in 12 innings and striking out 20.

Several players had big days at the plate, including Camryn Pinard, who finished 2-for-4 in both games and had a double in each.

The Mack girls trailed early in game one, but took control with two runs in each of the third and fourth innings to open up a 4-1 lead.

The Saints would chip away and pull within one, but Ausburn and the Panthers were able to hold on for the hard-fought win.

Trinity Preston also was 2-for-4 in the opener, while teammates Allie Egbert, Taya Gomes and Morgan Stubbs each added a base hit.

The Credo game was not as close and the Panthers pulled away with eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined to end the game early.

Gomes and Egbert each had three hits to lead a 12-hit team performances with Gomes hitting a double.

Preston continued her big day with a double and a pair of RBIs, while Jessie Driggs had a triple and Morgan Stubbs added a double.

Rebecca Barnett also had a base hit.

The Mack girls open the Big 5 at Eureka on Wednesday at 4 p.m.