The most suspense going into Orange softball’s season opener was whether Mia Davidson would break the career NCHSAA state home run record against Cardinal Gibbons, or whether the record would last another night.
Turns out, she tied it. And the scene shifts to Kacie Chamberlain Field in Hillsborough for the Lady Panthers’ home opener against East Chapel Hill…and possible history.
Oh yes, the game last night.
Davidson smashed her 42nd career home run, tying the state record as the Panthers defeated Cardinal Gibbons 17-2. The Panthers roared out to a 9-0 lead, pounding out 19 hits.
In her first varsity game, freshman Jayden Hurdle smashed a home run, finishing 3-for-6 with 3 RBIs. Davidson, among the candidates for National Player of the Year honors, started her senior season by going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs.
Davidson’s classmate, Abigail Hamlett, went 4-for-5 with four runs scored.
Senior Kristina Givens threw three innings for the win, yielding just one hit. Hurdle, in her first varsity game, throwing four relief innings, yielding three hits and two runs. She struck out six.
Leading 9-2 going into the seventh, Orange put up eight runs in the final frame to put the game away.
Orange faces East Chapel Hill tonight at 6. We’ll have live coverage on HillsboroughSports.com.