Knoxville 0  Indianola 4

Monday May 19, 2008

by Don French

The 2008 season kicked off Monday night for Panther baseball on a chilly and rainy evening at the Knoxville baseball complex, with the Panthers suffering a 4-0 setback to the visiting Indianola Indians. The contest was ended after five innings because of the rainy conditions.

Indianola took the lead early, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Knoxville turned an fine double play in the third to end another Indians threat. But the Indians scored three runs in the final two innings of play by combining three hits with a number of Panther defensive miscues.

Knoxville mounted a scoring threat in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases on walks to Danny Lee and Josh Russell and a Jesse Swanson single, but the Panthers were unable to push across a run. Swanson went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Knoxville's hitting effort.

Russell took the hard-luck loss on the mound despite a solid outing. The senior lefty allowed five hits and two walks over the five innings, while striking out six. Only two of the four Indianola runs were earned.

Knoxville (0-1) will next travel to Centerville on Thursday, May 22 for a varsity double-header against the Big Reds.