File photo – McKinleyville’s Callyn McCullough had a good day at the plate in Saturday’s doubleheader at Fortuna.

If opening day in Big 5 softball was any indication, there’s going to be a lot of parity in the conference this year.

At least between the four teams that were in action.

On Saturday, the Huskies welcomed the McKinleyville Panthers to Fortuna and the two rivals split a conference opening doubleheader.

The home team took game one 3-2, but the visitors bounced back to take game two 3-0.

Also in action on Saturday, the Arcata and Eureka girls split a doubleheader at Arcata High School in a pair of 7-6 games.

Conference favorite Del Norte had an opening-week bye.

At Fortuna, Isabel Sanchez of Fortuna and McKennah Sargent of McKinleyville served up a pitchers’ duel in the opener, allowing just six hits combined.

Sanchez threw a complete-game two-hitter and struck out 16 while walking seven on her way to the victory.

She got just enough offensive support, with the Huskies scoring three early runs and holding on late after the Panthers scored twice in the top of the fifth.

Fortuna freshman Evalynn Little led off the second inning with a single and advanced to second on a Myra Hayes sacrifice before opening the scoring on a Mariah Bravo base hit to center field.

The home team would add two more runs an inning later.

Sanchez hit a double down the right field line and senior Kadence Mace drove her home on a single before scoring herself a few minutes later on a Little base hit.

Sanchez got out of a jam in the fifth when she struck out back-to-back batters to strand the tying run at third.

Bailee Box and Callyn McCulough had McKinleyville’s only base hits of the game, while  the ever-reliable Sargent gave up just four hits and no walks and struck out six.

File photo

File photo

Sargent and the Panthers fared better in game two, scoring one run in each of the first, third and fifth innings and shutting out the home team for the victory.

Mashell Stumpf got the Mack offense going with a two-out RBI single to score Box, who was hit by a pitch to reach base before stealing second.

The impressive Stumpf finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while McCullough capped a good day with two more hits and a walk.

Liz Mengel rounded out a five-hit team performance.

Junior Myra Hayes started the second game in the circle for the Huskies and struck out five in 3.2 innings, before Sanchez took over.

Submitted photo – Action form Saturday’s doubleheader

The Huskies had opportunities to score but stranded 10 base runners, including runners in scoring position in each of the first, second, third, fifth and seventh innings.

The McKinleyville defense did a good job tracking down several fly balls to help preserve the shutout.

Mace finished 3-for-4 and Hailee Thompson was 2-for-4, while Little and Hayes each had a double.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series with the rubber match at McKinleyville on Monday at 4 p.m.