Panthers bounce back, top Loyola
The NRHEG baseball team ran its record to 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the Gopher Conference in winning two of three games in recent action.
Senior Matt Dahle again provided the big RBI Monday at Legion Field as the Panthers edged Mankato Loyola 5-4, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. For the game, he was 2-for-3 with a double. Sam Lundberg was 3-for-4, leading off the seventh with a single and scoring the winning run.
Mitch Akemann went the distance on the mound, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts and six walks.
“Mitch gave a gutty performance despite not having his best stuff,” said NRHEG coach Jeff Reese.
The Panthers were also strong defensively. Shortstop Tyler Sorenson made a nice diving play to get a runner out, and right fielder Nic Mangskau threw out two runners at home.
Last Friday, the Panthers dropped their first conference game of the season 7-6 at Faribault Academies.“It was a frustrating loss, with some calls not going our way and the ball not bouncing our way,” said Reese. “I was proud of the way the guys battled back after being down 7-3 after three innings.”
Lundberg and Akemann doubled, drove in a run and scored. Lucas Meyer, Carter Tollefson, Dahle and Sorenson had one hit apiece. Tollefson drove in a run and walked three times.
Mangskau took the pitching loss. He gave up six earned runs on six hits, striking out three and walking five in 2 2/3 innings. David Lassahn pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
“Lassahn did an excellent job shutting down the BA hitters,” said Reese. “Defensively, we committed two errors but those errors led to a run.”
The Panthers blanked Blooming Prairie 5-0 at Legion Field April 23.
The key inning was the fifth, when the Panthers broke open a close game with three runs on three consecutive two-out hits.
Akemann was stellar on the mound, tossing a three-hitter while fanning eight and walking three.
Offensively: Akemann 2-for-2, double, RBI; Jacob Staloch 1-for-2, double, RBI; Tollefson 1-for-3, RBI; Sorenson 1-for-2, triple, RBI; Casey Rosacker 1-for-3, double, RBI.
“We played a solid defensive game, with Brad Claycomb making a nice catch in the first and Sorenson making some good plays,” said Reese.
The Panthers were set to play Tuesday at United South Central. The play Thursday at Medford.