Panthers split with Atlantic after big game one win
Jun. 6—ATLANTIC — After three homeruns and a 13-3 victory in game one, the Panthers fell in a defensive 1-0 bout in game two against the Atlantic Trojans Monday.
Dylan Hoepker and Tanner Klejch pitched game one for the Panthers, combining for 67 strikes thrown on 113 pitches.
Cael Turner led the team offensively with three runs, one being a homerun.
Gavin Millslagle and Sam Henry also hit homeruns in the first bout.
In the third inning, the Panthers had five runs to put the team up 9-2.
"It was great to see our line up driving the baseball to start the day," Coach Brandon Phipps said. "Dylan Hoepker and Tanner Klejch did a great job on the mound in game one. Cael deserved the win in Game two, but we just did get in done at the plate in the second game."
In game two, The Panthers were held to a maximum of four batters at the plate per inning with eight batters striking out and no one getting past second base.
"It was a tale of two games," Phipps said. "Our bats were on fire in game one, but we did not bring the same approach into game two at the plate."
Turner performed well on the mound, throwing 67 strikes on 93 pitches, striking out 13 batters and allowing only one run.
Unfortunately for Creston, the one run is all it would take for the Trojans to take the second win.
"Defensively we were sound all night, we need to continue to improve as a team and look forward to getting back into conference play tomorrow at home vs. Clarinda and on the road Thursday vs Shenandoah," Phipps said.
