Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Neosho opened the conference season with a double header against Independence at Hudson Field in Chanute.  The Panthers lost a tough game 3-2 but rebounded 13-3 in the second game of the double header.
The first game was a pitchers duel from the start.  Neosho starter Jake Johnson and Pirates starter Braden Larkey traded scoreless innings until the top half of the 6th.  After back to back singles with 2 outs, a costly error by the Panthers allowed the first run of the contest to score.  Independence tacked on two more runs to take a 3-0 lead.  Neosho rallied in the bottom of the last inning.  With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, freshman Spencer Ibarra smashed a 2-run double to bring the Panthers within one 3-2.  Pirate Closer Tyler Morrill slammed the door from there, and Independence held on 3-2.  Neosho starter Jake Johnson was the tough luck loser, scattering 5 hits and giving up no earned runs.  Spencer Ibarra led the Panther offense, getting 2 hits and driving in the only 2 runs of the game.
Game two saw Independence jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.  From that point on, Neosho put up 4 in the 2nd, 5 in the 4th, and 3 in the 5th to take a 12-1 lead.  Independence answered in the 6th to pull the score within 9 at 12-3, but in the bottom half of the 7th Connor Goedert scored on a wild pitch to seal the run rule shortened contest.  Panther starter Matt Slauter got the win on the mound, giving up one earned run in 5.2 innings.  The Neosho offense was led by Connor Goedert, who had 3 hits and drove in 5 runs.  Dylan Christie and Colton Crocker drove in two runs as well.  
Neosho heads on the road for their first road games of the season on Friday, playing at Independence at 2:00 P.M.