Knoxville 10 Oskaloosa 4

Monday July 12, 2010

by Don French

A 12-hit attack and another fine pitching performance by Eric Jones lifted Knoxville to an easy 10-4 win over the Oskaloosa Indians in the opening game of a Monday double-header in Osky.

The Panthers wasted no time jumping on top, scoring three times in the top of the first. Blake McWilliams scored Blake Wyatt with an RBI single just ahead of Mike Jacks' two-run homer. The Indians were limited to two hits over the first three innings, but broke through for a run off Jones in the fourth. Further damage was averted when Lance Daugherty gunned down an Indian at home, with catcher Jared McRoberts blocking the plate and applying the tag.

Jacob Cunningham, Jacks and Daugherty stringed together hits in a three-run fifth to give the Panthers a more comfortable 6-1 lead. Jacks' hit scored Cunningham, then Daugherty's ground-rule double plated Jacks and McWilliams, who had walked.

Two Knoxville home runs capped off the win in the seventh. Daugherty cleared the center-field fence for a three-run shot, and finished with five RBI's for the game. Kellen Glover went “yard” with the bases empty to complete the scoring for the Panthers.

The large lead allowed Coach Mott to lift Jones after six innings and rest his ace for post-season play. The junior allowed six hits and struck out six while walking just one hitter. Colton Spaur finsihed the game in relief.