Snippes, a sophomore, also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI single in the fifth inning against Panthers senior pitcher Lexi Haglund. Izzy Yahr came around to score after doubling for Rosemount’s lone extra-base hit.

“Jessa is great. She’s super lighthearted, so I think that’s a part of why she’s so dominant,” said Rosemount coach Tiffany Rose. “She doesn’t let a lot of things get to her, she just goes out and does her thing. She’s really doing well and I’m sure this was hard for her, but she dominated.” 

Haglund went the distance in the circle for Lakeville North (4-2, 4-2) with nine strikeouts, while allowing seven hits, three walks and a hit batter. She didn’t sail quite as smoothly as Snippes, as at least one runner reached base in six of eight innings. Haglund threw strikes and relied on a tidy defense behind her. A diving catch made by Panthers shortstop Alyssa Bowersox saved a run with two outs in the eighth.

“Lexi threw well. Her offspeed pitches were working very nicely,” said Lakeville North coach Mike Schultz. “She was in control, I’d say, 95% of the game. It was a good hitting club we held to one run. I’m pretty proud of her.”

Haglund was on the hook for the loss in this South Suburban Conference matchup until Jordan Ahrenstorff stepped to the plate. The No. 3 hitter in the lineup shook off an 0-for-2 start by hitting a towering solo home run to right field with no outs in the seventh that forced extra innings.

It ended Snippes’ retired batter streak and gave the Panthers a much-needed shot of life.

A one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth by No. 8 hitter Kristin Thomas and a single by Ari Loesch, in her second at-bat off the bench, set the table for Malecha’s two-out knock.

Lakeville North had big aspirations for a 2020 season that was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the window of opportunity could still be open for the Panthers. Knocking off a Rosemount squad that’s off to its best start since winning a state title in 2006 is a confidence builder after a pair of losses leading in.

Schultz described his roster as “the closest knit team we’ve had.” Malecha is also a believer in the group’s intangibles.

“Our team throughout the whole year has just been having a good time. We’re a very positive team; we trust each other,” Malecha said. “I wouldn’t have been in that position if it wasn’t for my teammate Jordan. We all help out each other. I wouldn’t have been in that position if Kristin and Ari wouldn’t have gotten on.”