The Panthers began the new softball season with a pair of close games over the weekend.

McKinleyville opened with a 9-8 loss to East Nicolaus on Friday, before edging Arroyo 2-0 the following day as part of the St. Helena tournament.

Game one got away from the Panthers late.

The Big 5 school scored five runs in the top of the fifth and led 8-6 going into the bottom half of the seventh.

But the Spartans would score three late runs to secure the walk-off win.

Callyn McCullough led a six-hit team performance in the loss, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs, but defensively the Panthers committed eight errors for the game.

McKennah Sargent, Cabella Carper, Taylor Wade and Addison White each also had a base hit in the loss, with the latter also driving in a run.

Sargent, who will play at Santa Rosa JC next year, got the start in the circle and allowed just one earned run on nine hits and three walks in 6.2 innings while striking out five.

The Mack bats managed just one hit the following day against Arroyo, but two runs in the top of the first inning proved to be enough thanks to a better performance by the team defense and a big day for Sargent.

Sargent got the team’s lone hit and also had a good day in the circle, allowing just three hits and three walks in a complete-game shutout.

The senior pitcher, who struck out 10 on the way to the win, was named player of the game.

Next up, the Panthers will host South Fork on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.