Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Until the playoffs come, it's hard to say that certain games are a must win.  On Thursday, however, the Panthers needed two wins to keep pace with Johnson County and stay in the hunt for a Jayhawk East Conference title.  Neosho got those two wins in a total team effort, beating Allen County 2-1 and 8-1 in Iola.
The first game saw Allen jump out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a 2-out RBI single from Ryne Martinez.  Offense was at a premium the rest of the game, with Allen starter John Prochaska and Panther starter Matt Slauter traded scoreless innings until the top half of the sixth inning.  Neosho finally got on the board, plating 2 runs thanks to an RBI hit by pitch from Dylan Christie and an RBI single from Tyler Sutherland.  2 runs was all that Slauter needed, as he slammed the door in the sixth and seventh to preserve the 2-1 victory.  Slauter improved his record to a perfect 7-0 on the season, giving up only the one run and scattering 7 hits in the complete game performance.  Spencer Ibarra turned in a nice game offensively for the Panthers as well, going 2-4.
The second game saw the Neosho offense explode early and often.  The Panthers scored 1 in the first, 1 in the second, 2 in the third, and 3 in the fourth to build an early 7-0 lead.  Neosho extended the lead to 8-0 in the top of the seventh inning and never looked back winning the game 8-1.  Cody Hutchinson was magnificent on the mound, throwing 7 strong innings, surrendering only one unearned run and allowing only 3 Red Devil hits.  Tony Lane threw 2 scoreless in relief to end the game.  Craig Johnson led Neosho offensively, going 3-4 and driving in 2 runs.  Dylan Christie went 2-3 and drove in a run of his own as well.  
Neosho takes to the field again on Saturday in their annual "Game on for a Cure."  The Panthers will be wearing pink in honor of cancer awareness, and there will be a barbecue cook-off as well.  The game and festivities begin at 1:00 P.M. at Hudson Field in Chanute.