File photo – The Fortuna Huskies are 2-1 in the Big 5 after their win at McKinleyville on Tuesday.

It looks like it could be an exciting spring in Big 5 softball.

Five of the six games in the opening two series in conference play were decided by just one run, including all three games between Arcata and Eureka, with the Tigers taking the series rubber match on Tuesday.

The series between Fortuna and McKinleyville was equally exciting with the Huskies taking the rubber match at McKinleyville on Tuesday by a score of 4-3 after the two schools split a doubleheader at Fortuna on Saturday.

The series finale went right down to the wire after a late Panthers rally that saw score three runs in the final two innings.

However, the Mack girls stranded the tying run inn scoring position to close out the game and the Huskies held on for the victory and moved into a tie with Arcata atop the conference standings.

The Fortuna girls broke the early deadlock with a run in the top of the second and added two more runs in the fourth on a double off the fence in right center by Harmoni Linares, who transferred from McKinleyville High this year.

The Fortuna girls added to their lead in the following inning when senior Kadence Mace singled to score Olivia Hayes, who had doubled to reach base.

But just as it appeared the game was getting away from them, the Panthers began to rally, scoring their first run in the bottom of the sixth and adding tow more in the seventh to make for an exciting finish.

With two outs in the sixth, McKinleyville’s Liana Stumpf singled to reach base and quickly advanced to third on a misplayed ball and a wild pitch, before scoring on a wild pitch.

The rally continued in the bottom of the seventh.

McKinleyville senior Leah Circe led off with a walk and was advanced to second on a sharp single by the in-form Callyn McCullough, before both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.

With two outs, Bailee Box drove in the two runners on a base hit to left field to pull her team within one.

File photo

However, that was as close as the home team would get, with Fortuna center fielder Myra Hayes tracking down a high fly ball for the final out.

Fortuna pitcher Isabel Sanchez got the win in the circle, striking out 11 batters while also allowing just five hits and walking 10 in a complete game.

Mack’s McKennah Sargent pitched all seven innings for the home team, giving up 10 hits and no walks while striking out eight.

The Panthers had their chances but stranded 10 base runners.

The Fortuna defense had a good game, with several player making key plays, including the Hayes sisters — Olivia and Myra — in the outfield, each of whom “handled the routine plays flawlessly,” according to their coaches.

Shortstop Mariah Bravo and third baseman Evalynn Little also played mistake-free ball and made accurate throws under pressure, while catcher Faith Helms kept the McKinleyville base runners in check and made several key blocks at the plate on potential wild pitches.

Fortuna first baseman Hailee Thompson also handled her position effectively.

Olivia Hayes, Myra Hayes, Mace and Little each finished with a pair of hits for the Huskies, who improved to 2-1 in the Big 5 and 8-2 overall.

Stumpf led the Panthers at the plate and went 2-for-4 with a walk, while her sister Mashell Stumpf added a base hit, as did Box and McCullough.

Wit the loss, the Panthers dropped to 1-2 in the Big 5 and 5-6 overall.

Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday.

The Panthers travel to Eureka and the Huskies entertain Big 5 favorite Del Norte.

Both of those games are set for 4 p.m.