The Panthers got on the board in the first inning as Sawyer Schwartz reached on a hit by pitch and stole both second and third before stealing home with two outs to make it 1-0. Sterling tied the contest in their half of the first as they scored on a fielder’s choice,.
Sterling grabbed the lead in the top of the second on a two out, two RBI single to lead 3-1, after two innings.
After two scoreless innings the Panthers tied the game in the fifth as Evan Steimle drove in Gavin Van Dyke with a single, which was followed by a sacrifice fly by Braedyn Frank driving in Alastaire Sweetser to make it 3-3.
Graden Church took the mound in the bottom of the fifth in relief of EP starter Brayden Frank. After a strikeout to start the frame, the Warriors collected back-to-back singles and scored a run on a fielder’s choice to take the lead. After a walk and another single the Warriors scored two on a single to make it 6-3 after five.
The Panthers looked to get out of the bottom of of the sixth unscathed until Sterling loaded the bases with two out. The Warriors had other plans as they connected for five consecutive hits, four singles and a double, to run rule the Panthers.
Panther starter Frank allowed 3 hits and 3 runs over four innings, striking out 5 and walking 2. Church went 1 2/3 innings giving up 10 hits, 10 earned runs, walking 1 and striking out 2.
Tyler McCafferty got the win for Sterling allowing 2 hits and 1 run over four innings, striking out 5 and walking 5.
Steimle and Frank each had an RBI for the Panthers with Gavin VanDyke collecting two hits. EP earned seven walks and swiped seven bases in the loss.
The Panthers (0-1) are scheduled to host Bureau Valley on Monday.
