File photos – Jacey Parker scored the game-winning run in a thrilling walk-off victory over the Huskies on Wednesday.

There’s been no shortage of excitement in the first week of Big 5 softball, with four of the six games decided by the narrowest of margins.

Just one run separated Del Norte and Arcata in both of their games in Crescent City on Saturday, while Fortuna opened with a 3-2 victory at Eureka, also on Saturday.

But the most exciting game of the first week came at McKinleyville on Wednesday, as the Panthers opened their conference campaign with a thrilling 3-2 walk-off win against Fortuna.

Freshman Cabella Carper has been playing a key role for the Panthers in her first year at the high school level, and she continued to make an impact in Wednesday’s win, as did sophomore teammate Jacey Parker.

With the game tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, Parker led off the inning with a triple down the right field line, before scoring moments later on a wild pitch to end the game in thrilling fashion.

Carper scored McKinleyville’s first two runs of the day, tying the game in the bottom of the first after the visitors had taken an early lead, and then giving the Panthers a one-run advantage with a second run in the fifth.

But the Huskies would battle back, tying the game when they were down to their final out of the game.

Kaylee Castillo lined a double to the fence in right center, before scoring on an Isabel Sanchez base hit.

Click here for more on the Huskies’ performance.

File photo – Cabella Carper

McKinleyville senior McKennah Sargent also got her final Big 5 campaign off to an impressive start.

The experienced Mack pitcher threw a complete game and gave up just six hits and four walks while striking out six.

Carper finished 1-for-2 with a walk and the two runs, while Sargent finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Leili Guerrero rounded out a four-hit team performance for McKinleyville, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk.

The Big 5 teams will continue what has been a competitive start to conference play with four more games scheduled for Saturday, weather permitting.

The Panthers are scheduled to host Eureka in a doubleheader, while Fortuna will travel to Del Norte for two games.

All four of those games, however, may be pushed back because of the forecast rain.