Knoxville 12 Grinnell 0

Friday June 25, 2010

by Don French

Five straight base hits to open the game put the Panthers in charge early Friday night against Grinnell. The Panthers also took advantage of eight walks issued by Tiger pitchers. Justin Katich and Eric Jones combined to pitch a one-hitter. The end result was a dominating 12-0 blowout win for Knoxville which ended after five innings.

The first Tiger batter of the night got the only hit Grinnell would get off Katich in the top of the first. He would be the visitors' only baserunner of the night.

Meanwhile, Katich, Jones, Blake McWilliams, Mike Jacks and Lance Daugherty each stroked base hits to start the game, with McWilliams, Jacks and Daugherty collecting RBI's. Jacob Cunningham added a 2-RBI single as the Panthers quickly took a 5-0 lead.

Knoxville added seven more runs in the third despite only getting two hits. Six hitters drew walks in that inning, and two more were hit by pitches. Daugherty had both hits in the frame, driving in two runs with the second hit, a single to right. Cunningham got his third RBI of the night, drawing a bases-loaded walk.

The Panthers nearly scored again in the fourth, leaving the bases loaded despite Coach Mott emptying his bench liberally with a 12-0 lead. Blaine Chrisman got his first hit of the season and Lane Colwell drew yet another walk.

Knoxville improved to 6-3 in conference and 13-5 overall, and goes to South Tama to play a double-header with the Trojans on Monday.