Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Neosho knew that a fast start to the KJCCC conference slate was a must.  After starting slow the last couple years, the Panther baseball team swept Independence on Tuesday 3-2 and 16-5 to start their grueling conference schedule 3-1.  The games were played in Chanute, but Neosho was the away team on the scoreboard for both games.
Game one saw the Panthers jump out to an early 2-0 lead on an RBI single by 3rd Baseman Connor Goedert.  Independence answered in the bottom of the 1st inning getting to Neosho starter Casey Quinlan to bring the score to 2-1.  Neosho pushed the lead back to 3-1 in the top half of the second thanks to an RBI single by Freshman Tyler Sutherland.  The Pirates closed the gap by pushing a run across in the 4th, but that was all they could muster as Neosho held on for the 3-2 victory.  Panther starter Casey Quinlan picked up the win on the hill, throwing 6 innings and giving up 2 earned runs.  Dylan Christie set Independence down in order in the 7th to get the save for Neosho.  Offensively, Christie added 2 doubles and Spencer Ibarra had a triple in the winning effort.
Game two again saw the Panthers jump out to an early lead.  Neosho scored 4 in the first and 3 in the second to build a 7-1 lead after two innings.  The Panthers put up another crooked number in the top half of the 4th, plating 4 more runs to take a commanding 11-1 lead.  Independence rallied on Neosho starter Shane Hummel plating 4 in the bottom half of the 5th thanks to some timely hitting and an error.  Neosho answered with 1 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th to take a 16-5 lead and reliever Cody Hutchinson threw a scoreless 7th to invoke the run rule.  Andy Young had a huge game at the plate, going 4-5 with 2 doubles, a triple, and a home run.  He drove in 6 runs as well.  Brady Childs and Craig Johnson also added 3 hits and 3 RBI's to help in the offensive outburst.  Shane Hummel got the win on the mound for the Panthers, surrendering 1 earned run in 5 innings.
Neosho takes to the road for the first time this year as they head to Kansas City Kansas Community College on Thursday.  The games begin at 1:00 P.M.