Neosho County stormed back from a 4-1 deficit to win game one of a Jayhawk Conference double header by a score of 11-5. A pair of three run homeruns in the sixth inning were enough to put the Panthers on top for good as the bullpen threw four innings of one run relief.
In the nightcap Adam Giacalone was dominant as he broke the single game strikeout record by sitting down 17 Greyhounds on strikes in the game. With the wins the Panthers move to 13-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play while the Greyhounds fall to 16-7 overall and 6-4 in the conference.
Game 1
Fort Scott came out with bats blazing in game one of the double header as they rapped out nine hits and four runs over the first three innings. An RBI double in the second would get the Panthers on the board, but Fort Scott would answer back with a pair of runs of their own in the top of the third.
The Panthers wouldn't go away easy however as a Garrett Schaede single drove in a pair of runs with two outs to get them back within a run. Neosho County would finally close the game all the way in the bottom of the fourth as Jon Pomatto scampered home when Austen Colt reached base on an error.
The Neosho County lead would be short lived however as the Greyhounds would answer right back with a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning to take a one run lead.
After the Greyhounds held the scoreless in the fifth, the Panthers broke the game wide open in the sixth. Tommy Keith would lead the inning off with a walk before Taylor Smith would reach base on an error. A pair of strikeouts looked to end the Panther rally, but a three run homerun from Austen Colt would put the Panthers back on top. Three more singles would plate another run followed by a three run blast off the bat of Garrett Schaede would push his RBI total to five for the game.
Three Panther relievers combined to allow only one run over the final 4 innings of baseball after starter Daniel Peterson was knocked out early. Dalton Cox earned the win in relief tossing a perfect sixth inning before Max Ising came in to throw a scoreless seventh to close out the win.
Game 2
Adam Giacalone was special in game two as he tossed a 9 inning complete game scattering seven hits and two walks while only allowing a pair of runs. The real story however was how Giacalone got his outs. Giacalone began racking up the strikeouts early as he struck out five over the first two innings. He was only getting started however as the strikeouts began piling up. The previous record for strikeouts in a game was 15, held by Boomer Potts (2006), and Vince Peters (1993). Giacalone tied the record with his 15th strikeout in the seventh inning before setting a new record as he struck out a pinch hitter for his 16th strikeout of the day to end the inning. A strikeout looking in the ninth would finally set the record at 17 for the game.
Offensively the Panthers were led in the game by Nick Doughty who went 3-4 at the plate with a double and a pair of RBI's. Taylor Smith would chip in a double of his own and two more RBI's as well.
The Panthers will be back in action Monday March 21 as they look to wrap up the series with Fort Scott. First pitch is set for 1:00pm and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1460 as well as on the internet at http://kkoy.com/
