Elsah, ILL. -- The Panthers featured
Alex Stamos on the mound in game one. The Panthers scored first picking up two runs in the second.
Chris Stamos led off the inning with a single and
Will Adler doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. With two outs,
Ryan Eisenauer laced a line drive up the middle to plate two runs. The Tigers responded in the top of the third with two runs of their own. A walk and a home run evened things up at two.
Aleq McMullin led the next inning off with a solo shot to put the Panthers back on top. Both pitchers worked quickly and were efficient going through six innings in one hour and nine minutes. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers worked a leadoff walk.
Sean Hannan made his first appearance of the season. He got a quick out but gave up a single that tied up the game. He struggled briefly with his command and walked two to load the bases. Another single would give the Tigers their first lead of the game but as they tried to extend the lead, left fielder
Chris Stamos threw a strike to the plate to nab the second base runner to end the inning.
Ryan Eisenauer, who made his first start in several weeks behind the plate, reached on an error by the third basemen.
Blake Lesky pinch ran for Eisenauer and stole second.
Jack Adler hit his third home run of the year and gave the Panthers the walk off win.
Aleq McMullin started game two and after quick outs and two hit by pitches, a single gave the Tigers an early lead. The Panthers threatened in the bottom half of the inning but left two stranded. Two doubles in the second gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Tigers capitalized on an error in the third and stretched their lead to three.
Stephen Strong lead off with a walk in the home half of the third followed by a single by
Zach Grennie and a single by
Aleq McMullin that scored Strong. Lesky reached on a fielder's choice. He got into a run down and stayed in it long enough to allow
Zach Grennie to score to cut the lead to 3-2.
Chris Stamos made an early relief appearance and was lights out. He struck out 10 in five and two thirds pitched. With two outs in the sixth, he hit a batter, gave up a single which was followed by a home run which was his only mistake of the day. That shot was enough to give the Tigers a lead they wouldn't give up. The Panthers picked up two more in the 7
th.
Stephen Strong walked and
Aleq McMullin hit his second home run of the day. The late surge just wasn't enough and the Tigers took game two.
Up Next:
The Panthers will travel to Carlinville, IL to square off against the Blackburn Beavers in a three game series with a single game on Friday March 30
th and a double header Saturday the 31
st.
