RTR cooled down the redhot Panther baseball team on Tuesday, holding TMB to three hits in a 6-1 win in Tyler.
The Knights broke open a scoreless game with a four-run fourth inning.
“We had a rough time at the plate today, way too many strikeouts,” TMB coach James Fultz said. “These were two of the best arms we have seen so far this year, but we didn’t adjust to them fast enough. We looked at too many strike threes. The defense was good enough to win; we only walked one in the game, so RTR earned everything they got. The guys know that RTR is the team to beat, and competing in a game like this opens our eyes to where we need to be.”
Taylor Squires, Jackson Kruse and Connor Lanoue accounted for TMB’s hits. Carson Lanoue walked and scored the Panthers’ lone run.
The Panthers (3-2, 2-0) host LQPV today (April 16) and MCC on Saturday.
TMB 000 010 0 — 1 3 3 RTR 000 402 x — 6 7 1 Connor Lanoue (L, 0-1), Schuh and Squires.
APRIL 10: TMB 8, LAKEVIEW 3
The Panthers won their third straight game last Friday, using a five-run fourth inning to down Lakeview 8-3 in Camden Conference action.
Aiden Sanów and Brody Hauger both doubled and scored a run, and Taylor Squires and Brayden Marron both had a hit and scored twice.
“You never know how the third game of the week is going to go — this by far was the best weather we had all week, and the guys played pretty darn good,” TMB coach James Fultz said. “The defense was great behind Kruse and Hauger, when they gave the team chances to make plays, they got it done.
On the mound, Jackson Kruse started and fought through three innings to get the win. Hauger pitched four strong innings to close things out — the two limited the Lakers to just two hits. TMB played error-free ball, while the Lakers committed six miscues in the field.
“Hauger had a great game in relief, not allowing a hit and making each inning quick; that was great to see frowwwm him,” Fultz said. “He hasn’t pitched in a game yet this year, so his four innings were huge for us.”
TMB 100 501 1 — 8 5 0 Lakeview 003 000 0 — 3 2 6 Kruse (W), Hauger (4) and Squires.
2B: Hauger, Sanow
APRIL 9: TMB 4, YME 2
Three TMB pitchers combined to limit Yellow Medicine East to just four hits, and the Panthers fought through the spring snow to win their second straight, 4-2, over the Sting last Thursday in Granite Falls.
“Playing in the weather on Tuesday (against Adrian) helped us get through this one,” TMB coach James Fultz said. “We had heavy snow for almost two innings and dealt with flurries for the last chunk of the game. Grif (Zick) and David (Schuh) dealt with a pitching mound that was in rough shape after the snow, but they did a great job throwing strikes and forcing YME to swing the bat.”
The Panthers broke a 1-1 tie on an Aiden Sanow two-run triple in the fifth. It was one of his two hits on the day.
Zick through three innings to start the game and was relieved by Schuh, who went 3-1/3 to earn the win. Jackson Kruse got the save after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.
“Dave ran into some trouble at the end of the game, but Kruse came in to finish the game off with three pitches and forcing YME to ground out into a double play to end it,” Fultz said. “Good pitching, good at bats and solid defense got us the win. It was another great game for the guys.”
TMB 001 020 1 — 4 7 3 YME 001 000 1 — 2 4 3
Zick, Schuh (W, 4), Kruse (S) and Squires. 3B: Sanow. HBP: Kruse.
