The Pflugerville Panthers softball team is considered by many to be the top team in central Texas and one of the best in the state. So when they hit the field they are usually going to get an opponents best effort. Friday night was no different, as a determined McNeil Mavericks ball club challenged the Panthers the entire night before the Panthers pulled out a dramatic 5-4 victory in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Mavericks opened the scoring by taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the second inning hard-hitting junior Taylor Garcia led off with a double off the left-center field wall. Brittany Harley then reached first base on an error. After a passed ball moved the runners to second and third base, freshman sensation CiCi Ramos gave Panther fans a glimpse of the future with a single that scored two runs to make the score 2-1.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers got a single and a double from Diedre and Haley Outon (University of Houston signees) but were unable to score.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Victoria Gomez started a two-out rally with a single. Then Haley Outon showed why she is one of the top players in Central Texas by hitting a towering home run that hugged the left field foul pole to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Mavericks managed to tie the game at 4-4 behind some timely hitting and Panther fielding miscues.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, Diedre Outon drew a walk and stole second base. Gomez followed that with a walk-off double to right-center field to give the 5-4 victory.

The winning pitcher for the Panthers was Diedre Outon. The victory improved the Panthers to 12-1 on the season.

Pflugerville is back in action Friday at Anderson. The game will start at 7:30 p.m.