After struggling through much of the first game with pitchers struggling to find the strike zone and a few defensive blunders, the Neosho County Community College baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put away the Rockhurst Hawks, 13-8. The teams combined for seven errors, while the Panthers issued seven base on balls.

In game one, both teams scored once in the first and three times in the second. After retiring the Hawks in order, the Panthers went in front 5-4 on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Carrender, scoring catcher Cooper Minnick. However, the Hawks weren't done, they added two more runs in the top fifth to retake the lead, but Minnick led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. The next batter, Josh Norlin, tied the game with a single, scoring Minnick, and the Panthers took the lead for good on a double by Carrender.

Panther first baseman Ryan Toliver led off the sixth with a double which led to a five-run frame. Toliver, Minnick and Carrender went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Norlin, Chad Thomas and Brylie Ware added two more hits. Tripp Wright picked up the win in relief of starter Bryce Colt. Wright went 4 and 2/3 innings, striking out four.

The story was much different in the second game, as the Panthers blistered Rockhurst, 21-2. Neosho County put the pedal to the medal early and didn't lift until the final out. Home runs by Ware and Toliver sparked a 10-run first inning. Rockhurst managed to score single runs in the second and third innings. In all, the Hawks tallied only three hits in the game. In the second inning, Ware hit his second home run of the game. The three-run blast landed on top and then went over the Rowland Building in left field. The Panthers added one in the third and seven in the fourth to complete the sweep of Rockhurst.

Ware was 4-for-4 with seven RBIs and four runs scored to pace the offensive onslaught. Evan Bourn was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Chase Robinson and Norlin added two hits apiece. Alex DuBord picked up the win, pitching four innings. He struck out five, while surrending only three hits.

The Panthers (27-4 overall and 12-4 in the KJCCC) will travel to Iola to face Allen County Community College (17-11 and 12-4) at 1 pm Thursday.