Three hits won’t win many games against any team, and when those three hits don’t come with runners on base, it’s next to impossible to win any contest.
Twice — in both the third and fifth innings — the Panthers loaded the bases with nobody out against MCC on Tuesday. That produced a total of just one run, as TMB fell to the Rebels 6-2 in Milroy.
“And I would say we had guys on second base probably the other innings … this group just needs that one hit,” TMB manager James Fultz said. “We need that one thing to go our way, then we explode.”
The only explosion run-wise Tuesday was on the other side when the Rebels plated four runs in the third inning. In all, only one of MCC’s six runs were earned. Both teams committed four errors, but the Panther miscues came at the worst times.
The first bases-loaded situation for TMB didn’t include a hit, as Brayden Marron walked, Taylor Squires reached on an error, and Connor Lanoue drew the innings’ second base-on-balls.
That brought Griffin Zick to the plate with a chance to cut into the Rebel’s four-run lead. The senior hit a laser, but it was right at the MCC third basemen, who doubled off Marron at third for two quick outs. A balk moved the Panther runners to second and third, but the inning ended with a strikeout.
“We put pressure on them to have a chance, but we just didn’t come up with that clutch hit,” Fultz said.
TMB’s next big chance came in the fifth when Carson Lanoue was plunked by a fastball, and Marron walked again, as did Squires. This time, the Panthers were able to get on the scoreboard when Connor Lanoue hit into a fielder’s choice to score Marron. But that was as close as TMB would get, as it left two runners on.
David Schuh got TMB’s first hit of the game in the sixth. However, he was eventually picked off second base after getting caught in a rundown.
TMB’s other hits came from Jackson Kruse and Connor Lanoue, who also had two stolen bases.
Connor Lanoue took the complete-game loss. He struck out six and walked just two, but the four errors haunted him.
TMB’s second run came in the seventh when Connor Lanoue’s sharp grounder up the middle bounced high off the mound, allowing Squires to score.
TMB (4-5, 3-3) play KMS in Milroy today (April 30), then host Edgerton back in Tracy on Friday,
MCC 004 020 0 — 6 6 4 TMB 000 010 1 — 2 3 4 Connor Lanoue (L) and Squires.
