BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. -- The St. Mary's Colgan Panthers split a doubleheader on the road against the Baxter Springs Lions on Monday, taking the first game 4-2 before dropping the second game 14-13.
The Panthers opened the scoring on an error as pitcher Kysen Bennett drove in Gus Keller for the first run of the ballgame in the top of the first.
The Panthers put up two more runs in the fourth when designated hitter Connor VanBecelaere drove in two runs with a single, and Keller drove in a run in the sixth.
Bennett was lights out on the mound for the Panthers, pitching six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts. Keller came in to earn the save, retiring the side in order in the seventh inning.
If the first game of the day was a pitchers' duel, the second was anything but. Baxter Springs exploded for six runs in the first inning and looked set to blow out the Panthers, but Colgan answered with a pair of crooked numbers, scoring five runs in the second inning and three in the third. The Panthers took a 7-6 lead in the third off a single from left fielder Anthony Schremmer. The two teams traded blows, but it was disastrous seventh inning for the Panthers, as they lost a 13-11 lead. Baxter Springs put up three runs and won the game on a walk-off walk.
Tristan Voss starred for the Panthers at the plate, earning two hits and two RBI in four plate appearances. The Panthers scored 13 runs on nine hits, totaling 10 RBI as a team and earning five walks.
But the Lions exploded for 14 runs on 13 hits in game two.
The doubleheader split puts the Panthers at 4-3 on the season, and they’ll look to improve on that record on Thursday, staying on the road as they travel to Galena for two games against the Bulldogs.
