After jumping out to a two run lead the EP Panthers gave up seven first inning runs to Monmouth-Roseville as the Titans made the lead hold up and went on to a 9-4 win in Monmouth on Friday. The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-11 and was their sixth consecutive loss.
The Panthers scored in their first at bat. With one out, Tristan Hovey reached on an error and Parker Rangel singled. A single by Evan Steimle and an error plated two runs for the Panthers. Another single by Braylon Swertfeger kept the inning going but the Titans were able to turn a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first the Titans first two runners reached base on an error and a walk. After a ground out, a second Panther error on a ground ball to EP first baseman Eli Heyvaert scored M- R’s first run. An RBI single tied the score at 2. A third Titan single was followed by a force play at the plate keeping the score tied at 2 with two outs. The second walk of the inning forced in a run to give the Titans a 3-2 lead. The third Panther error of the inning on a ground ball allowed two more runs to score to make it a three run Titan lead. EP’s fourth error, on a ground ball, gave the Titans another unearned run making it 6-2. M-R scored their seventh run on a steal of home to make it 7-2 at the end of one.
The Panthers responded with a pair of runs in the second after singles by Caden VanHorn and Hovey made it a 7-4 game.
Neither team scored again until the sixth inning. The fifth Panther error and a pair of walks led to a two out two RBI single making it 9-4.
Caden VanHorn threw a complete game giving up 8 hits, 9 runs (zero earned), striking out 4, and walking 4.
Parker Rangel had three hits, including a double, with Evan Steimle collecting two hits. The Panthers stole six bases in the game.
The Panthers will travel to Hall on Monday.
