A clutch two out triple from junior Sawyer Copeland drove in Evan Steimle and Braedyn Frank to put the Panthers ahead after 6 1/2 innings.
Gavin VanDyke pitched the bottom of the seventh and earned the save but not without a scare. The first Storm hitter struck out and then a walk and stolen base got the tying run to second. The BV leadoff hitter crushed one to left center but Steimle tracked it down and threw to third where the runner was called safe. The Panthers appealed the runner leaving early from second which he did and the umpire called him out to end the game.
Copeland and Cade Huisman led the Panther offense with 2 hits and 2 RBIs each, while Carter Hadaway contributed 2 hits. Huisman got the win, going 6 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 earned runs and struck out 5.
Panther coach Jeff Wunderlich was happy with the comeback effort. “We got thumped by Newman Monday and were in trouble tonight but came though when we needed to.”
The 5-3-1 Panthers get a rematch with the Newman squad Thursday in Sterling.
