Klein Collins sneaked by Klein Oak Monday to take the win 2-0 over the Panthers, splitting the series 1-1.

 

Jacob Fowler had a good outing on the mound for the Panthers pitching into the 5th inning striking out 4 Tigers and allowing 5 hits but the Panthers loaded the bases in two consecutive innings but couldn't get that last hit to score even one run.

 

The Panthers started the game with a single by Phillips who was left stranded bringing up the Tigers.  In the bottom of the first, Fowler faced only 3 batters, with a 6-3 play from Schulze to Steele in the middle of two strikeouts that retired the side quickly.  Oak's second at bat was just as quick as their frist with no Panthers reaching.  The Tiger's second inning saw only 3 batters as well as a fly out to Sloan in left, a strike out and another Schulze/Steele play retired the side.

 

In the top of the third, Steele was put on base with a walk but a dropped fly ball at the last minute put Phillips on first and caught Steele at second.  The inning ended with Phillips stranded and the score remained 0-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd.

 

Fowler took the mound and great defense by Schulze, Thompson on third, and a great stretch by Steele at first got two quick outs.  Two singles by the Tigers put two on base but Fowler came back with a well needed strike out to keep the Tigers scoreless through three.

 

In the top of the fourth, singles by Fowler and Arthur put two on and when Schulze was hit by a pitch the Panthers loaded the bases with two outs.  Unfortunately the inning ended and all three Panthers were left stranded.  Fowler again relied on his infield in the fourth for two quick outs again; however two walks produced one run with an RBI single.  Schulze ended the inning with a line drive catch and the Tigers took the lead 1-0.

 

Phillips was again left stranded after a single in the top of the fifth but the inning ended and Fowler came back to face the Tigers.  A single by the lead off man put a runner on who moved to scoring position after a 6-3 play got the next batter at first.  A 4-3 play between Arthur and Steele got the next batter but not before the runner scored giving the Tigers another run and leading the Panthers 2-0.  A single by the next batter brought a pitching change for Oak and Zach Schulze took the mound with two outs and one on.  The Panthers shifted defensively with Arthur to short, Fowler to 3rd and Thompson to 2nd.  Schulze faced only one batter as a 4-3 play (Thompson to Steele) ended the inning.

 

The Panthers had 3 quick walks by Fowler, Hoffmans, and Schulze that again loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the 6th; but, all three were left standing when the inning ended and no runs crossed the plate.  Schulze took the mound in the bottom of the 6th where Thompson and Steele connected for the first out and Steele beat the runner to the base with the ball for the second quick out of the inning.  A single stretched to a double by the Tigers put one on second but a quick strike out ended the inning with only one more chance for Oak in the 7th.

 

Phillips again started the inning and reached on a single but a line drive, strike out and pop up ended Oak's chances and the game ended Tigers 2 - Oak 0.