GOWANDA — The Gowanda Lady Panthers walk off against Brocton, 14-13, in a Section VI softball game, at Gowanda High School on Thursday. Battling from an early deficit the whole game, the Lady Panthers Zoey Kota stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third, Kota sent the first pitch to right field for a double — driving in both runs for a walk off win, 14-13.

Makenzie Carroll was in the circle for Gowanda and got off to a rough start in the first inning as the Lady Bulldogs were able to get eight runs on the board.

“Makenzie struggled finding the strike zone in the beginning,” said Gowanda head coach Tyler Thompson. “She surrendered five walks and we committed two errors. The slow start, some of it had to do with the weather. We thought it was going to be warmer than it was.”

Down by eight the Lady Panthers battled back, getting four runs in the bottom of the first. Gowanda continued to chip away at the lead, facing Megan Gloss in the circle for the entire game. Gloss would give up 10 earned runs on 18 hits and three walks, while punching out seven with a strikeout.

“I think we never put our heads down,” said Coach Thompson. “We buckled down and chipped away at lead. We talked about competing and the will to compete, we also talked about getting comfortable in uncomfortable positions.”

The Lady Bulldogs managed to maintain their lead as the game went on with Jenelle Grigelevich and Makenna Honey provided great offensive games. Grigelevich went 3-5, scoring three runs and knocking in two more, Honey added four singles, going 4-5 with one RBI.

Brocton took a one run lead into the bottom of the seventh but were unable to hold off the Lady Panthers potent offense. With runners on second and third Zoey Kota hit her third double of the day and knocked in her fourth and fifth runs to give Gowanda an exciting walk off win, 14-13.

The Lady Panthers offense ended the day with 18 total hits and 10 extra base hits. Kota went 4-5 with three doubles, a triple and five RBIs, while Gao:wisa:s Stevens went 4-5, including a double and two RBIs.

“A great display of their poise and character,” said Coach Thompson. “Definitely believed in our ability and skills offensively. We’re never out of a game — at the end of top of first we needed to chip away at the lead and be aggressive and score runs.”

Gowanda (2-0) will play next Friday in Hamburg.

Brocton (0-1) will try to get their first win on Monday when they host Westfield.