Tribune After a late comeback fell short in game one of Thursday's doubleheader, Neosho County starting pitcher McCae Allen tossed a four-hitter in a

15-2 victory over Jayhawk Conference foe Allen County.

In game one, Allen County's offense exploded for six runs in the top of the second en route to an 8-7 win.

They led off the big inning, launching the first pitch the Red Devils saw over the outfield fence for the game's first run.

Allen County ended up batting around in the frame, adding another five runs on the scoreboard before Neosho County managed to get out of the frame.

The visitors added one more in the top of the fifth before the Panthers got on the scoreboard.

Up to that point, the Neosho County offense had produced only two hits in the contest.

"We decided to feel sorry for ourselves for the first four innings. In the fifth, sixth and seventh, we did have a chance to tie it up with one swing of the bat or go ahead," Coach Steve Murry said. "They were so busy feeling sorry for themselves that it was grotesque."

In the home half of the fifth, freshman third baseman Marcus McDaniel sparked a rally with a one-out double. The inning was capped off by a three-run blast to left field from freshman Nola Beets, drawing the Panthers within one run.

Neosho County had an opportunity to take the lead in the next half inning but left the bases loaded.

In all, the Panthers left 10 runners on base in the loss.

Sophomore Aaron Dees went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Beets collected two hits to go along with three RBIs.

Sophomore starter Alex DuBord was tagged with the loss in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked three while surrendering seven runs on 11 hits.

In game two, the story was much different.

"In between games, I told them you need to figure it out," Murry explained. "It was amazing how much better we got right after that."

The team did just that as they came out swinging.

Allen County grabbed an early 2-0 advantage, but the remainder of the game belonged to the Panthers as Neosho County scored at least two runs in each inning but one.

The Red Devils starting pitcher Jacob Butterfield limited Neosho County to four hits during the regular season a year ago, but the Panthers opened the bottom of the first with three consecutive hits as they grabbed their first lead of the afternoon.

It was a lead they never surrendered the remainder of the day.

"When this team jumps out to a lead, it can be pretty good, but when we are in a deficit, we aren't very good," Murry said. "We have to play from ahead until we can figure it out."

They added five more in the third to blow the game open, including a two-run home run by McDaniels.

Norlin and McDaniels tallied three hits apiece in the win, driving in a combined seven runs and scoring five times. In all, the Panther offense scored 15 runs on 18 hits.

Allen earned the win, going the full seven innings. He struck out three and walked only one.

"McCae was very impressive because he threw strikes with his breaking pitches," Murry said. "If you can't do that at this level, you aren't going to succeed. He struggled with that early in the early in year, and this time he got it done. It was good progress on his part."

The Panthers (16-11 overall and 6-8 in the KJCCC) and Red Devils (25-6 and 11-3) will wrap up the season series Saturday in Iola. First pitch is slated for 1 pm on the campus of Allen County Community College.