The Spring Lions hosted our Panthers in the tenth district game of the season.  Ryan Hudnall had the pitching assignment for the Panther’s on Friday evening.  Lead off Panther Scott Arthur received a free pass to first base to start off the game and stole second base for the 32nd time this year.  Kaleb Goodell moved Arthur to third with a sacrifice ground ball to second base and Wes Theiss also hit a much needed ground ball to shortstop, scoring Arthur for a sacrifice and his first of two RBI’s.  Two outs and Garrett Harrison hits a double into right field, but unfortunately is left stranded on base.  In the bottom of the first the Spring Lions earned two runs on two hits and managed to gamble in a nixed squeeze play with the runner sliding in under Panther catcher C.J. Manning’s tag.   Panther’s 1 - Lions 2.

The second inning leadoff batter Andy Wilson scorched a rope to the tail end of the Lions pitcher with a line drive that was hit so hard that the pitcher could not react fast enough to defend himself.  The next three batters all put the ball in play but each ball was hit hard right at the shortstop who made three consecutive outs to retire the side.  The Lions saw four batters with a leadoff single, a strike out and fly outs to Theiss at second and Goodell in center field, ending the second inning with the Lions on top 1-2.

At the top of the third Arthur made his only out of the night while Goodell grounded out to the shortstop, Theiss patiently walked and Harrison grounded out to a fielder’s choice which opted to make the easy play tagging Theiss out at second.  The Lions lead off with a single, the second batter hit a lazer down to third baseman Austin Jackson who managed to catch the ball for the first out.  The inning ends with Panther pitcher, Ryan Hudnall, picking off a runner at first base while the Lion runner on third base stood and watched the whole play; he had the best seat in the house.

The top of the fourth inning, Spring retired the Panthers batters one, two, three.  The Panthers returned the favor to Spring by retiring three consecutive Lions with the score remaining 1-2  with Spring on top.

At the top of the fifth the Panthers came out roaring with a one out single by Manning, followed by a double by Arthur and then a two RBI single by Goodell who was thrown out at second trying to stretch the single into a double.  The bottom of the fifth Garrett Harrison comes in to relieve Hudnall.  With eleven pitches Harrison retires the Lion’s one, two three, Panthers on top 3-2.

At top of Six, Harrison leads off with a sharp ground ball to shortstop who over throws first base and Harrison is thrown out trying to advance to second.  Walker then hits a single, while the next two batters are retired.  

It’s the bottom of sixth and there is magic in the air.  Harrison cuts down batter number one with a called strike out then, uncharacteristically, he walks the next two batters.  Harrison, however, was able to tag out the runner at 3rd on an attempted steal. It was a huge momentum killer.  Harrison walks his third consecutive batter and then strikes out the next batter to leave two lions stranded, 3-2 Panthers. 

The top of the seventh resulted in two more Panther runs with Arthur getting his second hit of the night, and while scoring his third run of the night on a Goodell ground ball, RBI, to third.  Wes Theiss hits a RBI single and scores Goodell, while being left on base to end the inning.  Chase Barnett enters the game to slam shut the victory.  Chase saw only four batters, left one on base and struck out the final Lion to end the game and secure the post-season for the Panthers.  A nice win for the Panthers and Ryan Hudnall.