Sarah Noce’s first high school grand slam home run couldn’t have come at a better time for the Redmond Panthers.

Noce’s bases-loaded highlighted a six-run second inning that sent Redmond to a 7-0 Intermountain Conference softball victory over Bend High on Friday.

The win at Hal Puddy Field improved the Panthers’ IMC record to 5-2 at the midway point of the season. More importantly for Redmond, the victory gives the team a season sweep of the Lava Bears and the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. That could prove crucial down the stretch should the two teams finish tied for a state playoff position.

”That was a big win,” said Redmond coach Mike Gedrose. ”We told the kids it was important that we take care of business.”

Bend (9-6 overall) reached the midway point of its league schedule at 3-4.

”Going into today I thought it was a real critical game,” said Lava Bears coach Gary Hughes. ”But this league is so balanced that no team is out of it. We have to come back and be ready to play.”

The Panthers (11-6-1 overall) rode a strong pitching performance from Ashley Gibson. The sophomore scattered five hits, struck out eight, walked only two and got big outs to squelch Bend threats.

”She did a great job,” praised Gedrose. ”She gets better every game. She’s done a good job for us all year.”

Said Hughes: ”Gibson threw a great game and kept us off the bases. The opportunities we did have, she got big outs when she needed them. We couldn’t get a big hit when we needed it.”

But it was Noce’s big hit – or hits – that made the difference in the game.

The junior shortstop opened the game with a first-pitch single to center field. She raced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Janelle Durgan, then scored when Nicole Hudson’s grounder was misplayed for an error.

Redmond quickly built on its 1-0 lead, sending 11 batters to the plate during its six-run second inning.

Katy Schulte, Audry VanHouweling and Jenna Hansen hit consecutive singles to set the stage for Noce, who belted a hit that went over the reach of Bend center fielder Jessica Armstrong. The speedy Noce raced around the bases for a stand-up grand slam.

Hudson reached base on a one-out infield single and scored when Gibson followed with an RBI triple to center field. Jenny Schwerbel walked, then Jenny Snow singled to left field to drive in pinch-runner Tara Pratt.

The Panthers had seven hits in the inning and finished with 12 for the game.

”We talked a lot about hitting before the game,” said Gedrose. ”We did a real good job with the bats.”

Noce had three hits to lead Redmond. Gibson, Snow and VanHouweling added two hits apiece.

”(Kayla) Salazar has pitched great all year for us, (but) she just didn’t have it today,” Hughes said of his starter. ”You have to give Redmond credit: they came out and really hit the ball well.”

Megan Snelson was the lone Lava Bear with more than one hit. She finished with two.