Dan Eyrich, AP Sports
After 4 1/2 innings in Manlius on Monday afternoon it looked like it would be EP’s day as they were leading the Storm 4-2 looking for their second win of the season. However, the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be a frame the Panthers would just as soon forget as the home team plated nine runs to take an 11-4 win.
Things started well for EP as Caden VanHorn and Tristan Hovey started the game with back-to-back singles with VanHorn scoring the Panthers’ first run on a Parker Rangel Infield ground ball. The Panthers looked to add on after a Braedyn Frank double to put runners at second and third with one out but they were left stranded.
The Storm tied the game in the bottom of the third with a two run RBI single, then loaded the bases but EP ended the inning turning a double play.
Braylon Swertfeger led off the 4th inning with a single for EP and eventually scored on a passed ball to put the visitors up 3-2. Hovey then drove in another run with an infield ground ball to make the score 4-2.
The Panthers appeared to have the game in hand until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Storm scored nine runs. With one out, a walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. Panther pitcher Braedyn Frank then issued back-to-back walks, two of five he would issue in the game, to tie the contest at four. That ended the day for Frank who gave up 6 hits, 6 earned runs and struck out 8. He was relieved by Braylon Swertfeger who was promptly greeted with a two run double giving the Storm the lead. An error and four more singles would push the Bureau Valley lead to 11-4 after five innings.
EP loaded the bases in the top of the 7th but the threat was ended with a game ending double play.
Tristen Hovey led the Panther offense picking up three hits including a double and an RBI. Leadoff hitter, Caden VanHorn also contributed two hits. The Panthers had plenty of base runners in the contest picking up eight hits and seven walks but also racked up 11 strikeouts.
“We had some mistakes, and then a few hits hurt us,” said EP coach Jeff Wunderlich. “We didn’t have many timely hits and that hurt us also.”
The 1-2 Panthers will host Knoxville on Wednesday.
