AKRON – The Tippecanoe Valley softball team dropped its season opener to NorthWood Monday.

The visiting Panthers posted a 15-1 win in five innings.

NorthWood scored four runs in both the second and third frames and added six more in the fourth to complete the win.

The Panthers outhit the host Vikings 11-2 in the contest.

Kassidy Shepherd led the way for Valley with a double. She also picked up the pitching loss for the Vikings.