Starting EP Pitcher Braedyn Frank had an excellent start for the Panthers as he allowed 1 earned run and struck out 10 in the Panther’s conference opener as they defeated Kewanee 10-8 in Kewanee on Monday afternoon. Frank took his lumps (literally) at the plate as he was hit by a pitch three times.
EP’s Alastaire Sweetser collected four hits in four at bats, including a pair of doubles and a pair of singles to lead the offense.
Leading 2-0 the Panthers blew open the game as they plated 5 runs in the top of the third. Evan Steimle drove in two on a single followed by James Lopez driving in Steimle with a single with Cade Huisman scoring on an error on the play. Carter Hadaway drove in the seventh Panther run with a fielder’s choice.
EP added a single tally in the fifth as Lopez scored on a wild pitch after reaching base via a walk to make it 8-0 EP.
Thr Boilers broke through in the sixth scoring four times. Alastaire Sweetser took over on the mound to start the inning and had trouble finding the strike zone as he hit three of the first five batters he faced. That resulted in just one run but with two outs an infield error, a walk, and a single added three more runs to make it 8-4 EP after six.
With two outs and one on in the seventh Kewanee added two more runs on a pair of walks another infield error before Sweetser ended the game with a strikeout.
Braedyn Frank struck out 10 batters allowed 5 hits and 4 runs over five and two-thirds innings while walking 2 to get the win.
Panther coach Jeff Wunderlich liked what he saw from his cub. “It was a good game. Frank pitched a great game. He was throwing strikes and had good rhythm. He got into a little jam in the 6th but Sweetser came in and shut it down. Our bats started out good and we were able to get runs in multiple innings which was the difference in the game. We’ll continue to work on defense so we don’t let teams back in the game. It was a great way to open up conference play. We just need to continue to get better.”
The Panthers (2-2-1, 1-0) will host Kewanee on Thursday.
