File photo – The McKinleyville Panthers

The McKinleyville Panthers got back to winning ways and kept their Big 5 championship hopes on track with a doubleheader sweep at Eureka in softball on Saturday.

Just three days after dropping their conference opener at Fortuna, the Panthers took game one 11-1 in five innings and followed that with a 16-10 win in a high-scoring game two.

Bailee Box and Leili Guerrero both had big days at the plate for the Mack girls, who improved to 2-1 in the Big 5 moved within one win of second-place Del Norte in the conference standings.

Box, who hit for the cycle over the two games, had a triple and two walks in the opener before going 4-for-5 with a home run and a double in game two.

Guerrero had four hits and three RBIs in game one, including a double, and added two more hits in game two.

“I was impressed by the collective team effort today,” McKinleyville head coach Shanna McCracken said. “It took everyone to get the job done today.”

The losses dropped the Loggers to 0-5 in the Big 5, but a young team turned in a much better performance in game two and matched the Panthers for much of the game after making some big changes to the lineup this week.

“I’m really proud of my girls and how they dealt with the adjustments,” Eureka head coach Cheyenne King said. “They’re really keeping positive.”

Macy Secor led the Loggers at the plate in the opener, finishing 2-for-3, while Jaycee Childress added a double and Guliana Burger and Koko Salque each also had a base hit.

Freshman Sueveya Provolt added a double in that game for the Panthers, while Taylor Wade was 2-for-2 with two walks and Jacey Parker, Hannah McCullough and Victoria Eggink each also had a hit.

Provolt pitched all five innings for the win in the circle and struck out six.

File photo

Two other freshmen — Parker and Ashton Rodriguez — combined with Provolt in the circle in game two.

In addition to Box’s big game at the plate, Guerrero, Provolt, Wade and Parker each added two hits, as the Panthers blew open a one-run game with eight runs in the top of the sixth.

Baylie Grooms also made some big plays in the outfield for the Panthers.

Freshman Kylie Secor had a big two-RBI base hit for the Loggers in game two, her first varsity hit, while Macy Secor and Childress each had two hits.

Bailey Brown added a triple, with Mallorie Beauchamp, Megan Secor and Mackenzie Wolff each also adding a hit.

Macy Secor also made a couple of big diving catches at third base.

Wolff pitched a complete game in the opener and split time in the circle with Brown in game two.

Despite their struggles in terms of wins and losses, the Eureka players continue to battle.

“They come every day ready to play and happy to be there, and ready to support each other as a team,” King said.

With the two wins, the Panthers improved to 7-6 on the season.

File photo – Bailee Box hit for the cycle on Saturday.