Nothing like Friday night baseball in Texas.  Kyle Roliard took the mound for the Kats, while Garrett Harrison took his second assignment of the season for the Panthers. 

Scott Arthur lead the game off with a walk, while Kaleb Goodell advanced Scott to second with a well placed bunt.   Speedster Arthur advanced to third after a wild pitch from Roliard, while Wes Theiss fought off a full count with four fouls balls.  Wes finally put the ball in play for a sacrifice and RBI as Arthur scores the first Panther run of the night.  Garrett Harrison and Travis Walker both singled thereafter and were left on base with a 1-0 lead over the Kats. 

The bottom half of the first inning the Kats had five batters, no runs, no hits and two runners left on base. 

The second inning harvested two more runs for the Panthers lead by Brent McMinn and catcher C.J. Manning after a single by McMinn and a walk by Manning, Scott Arthur singles in McMinn while Kaleb Goodell puts a ball in play for Manning’s run, 3-0 leading into the bottom of the second. 

The Kats strike back with three runs on four hits with one man left on base, 3 each at the top of the third.

 The third inning saw three batters for both sides with a stellar fielding by both Arthur , Theiss (who has been errorless for a looong time) and a sharp ground ball in between first and second which McMinn  ran down and tossed  to pitcher Harrison who beat his batter to first base for the last out of the inning. 

Top of the fourth the Panthers had two hits, Manning and Arthur, unfortunately they were left stranded on base.  

The bottom half of the inning the Kats scored three runs on two hits with a two run homerun by Jason Mohn.  Harrison ended the inning with his third strike out of the night, with a score of 3-6 top of the 5^th. 

The fifth was a quick inning which brought a single by Andy Wilson who four pitches later is caught in a run down for the third out of the inning. The bottom of the fifth saw four Kat batters with no runs on two hits and a inning ending double play by our silky smooth inside infield; Arthur to Theiss to McMinn. 

Top of the sixth the Panther had three batters with an inning ending double play, 3-6 bottom of the sixth. The Kats put two more runs on the board.  During the inning, Harrison faced the first two batters and scored two outs, a fly ball to Arthur at shortstop and a well fielded ground ball to McMinn who again tosses the ball to Harrison for another foot race to first.  With a high pitch count Harrison is relieved by Ryan Harris.  Harris faces two of the Kats toughest batters and both battle for full count walks.  One runner scores on a wild pitch and reliever, Freshman, Travis Walker is called in from the bull pen.   Another run scored before Andy Wilson catches a fly for the last out of the sixth, 3-8 the Kats in front. 

The top of the seventh will be a classic Panther inning for many games and perhaps season’s to come.  Down by five runs Kat reliever Kevin Gonzales takes the mound against lead off Scott Arthur.  Arthur hit his third consecutive hit into center field for a double.  With one out Theiss walks, Harrison singles which fills up the bases.  Walker receives four consecutive balls to walk in a run and keep the bases loaded for Andy Wilson.  Andy is down in the count 1 ball two strikes, fouls a ball off and then pounds a line drive to the right center field fence for a stand up double and three RBI’s with only one out and  a tie ball game.  Now, enters fire-baller Matt Purke to relieve Gonzales.  With a gutsy at bat, Austin Jackson singles to advance Wilson to third for the tying run.   Brent McMinn with a one and one count manages to hit a needed ground ball in between first and second for a sacrifice and game tying RBI.  Purke finishes the inning with a strikeout, 8-8 top of eight. 

Walker returns to the mound for the seventh and retires three consecutive batters with a fly out to Harrison, now playing right field, and two well fielded grounders to Arthur at shortstop. 

Top of eight had Scott Arthur lead off with yet another hit, 4-4 with a walk for the night.  Two ground balls by Goodell and Theiss produce two outs for the Kats but also advance Arthur to third base.  Harrison with a one and two count strikes a sharply hit ball right back to Purke, who does not have time to field the ball yet somehow the ball hits his left ankle and reflects directly to the second baseman who throws out Harrison at first and saves Arthur go ahead run, 8-8 bottom of the eighth.  

Travis Walker returns to the mound and faces the Kats last batter in their lineup, Hanzel, who doubles.   Panthers Coaches opt  to relieve Walker with Chase Barnett.  The Panthers give a free pass to leadoff threat Tyler Boss, which puts a man on first and second.  Barnett has a two and two count on the Kats second batter, Jason Mohn, who hits a hard ground ball to Theiss who rolls it over to his best buddy Scott at shortstop who quickly bangs out Mohn at first for the second inside double play of the evening.  Two outs and the winning run on third.  Panthers  give Kats third hole Adam Smith a free pass to first to face the Kats Sam Landus.  Again with a twenty two count, Barnett pitches a smart, up and in fast ball to Landus who fights it off with a game winning hit to right field.  

The Panthers end the night with 12 hits (4 by Arthur, 2 each by Harrison and Wilson and one each by Walker, Jackson, McMinn and Manning), two errors and seven men left on base.  This was a exciting, well played baseball game; a few things different and perhaps the “L” changes to a “W”!