MADRID — For seven innings the Panorama and Madrid baseball teams stood toe-to-toe Thursday, with a pair of stout starting pitching performances forcing the game into extra innings tied at 1-all.
The visiting Panthers appeared to have finally broken through by plating the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, only to have the Tigers score twice in the bottom half of the frame to snatch away the win.
Freshman hurler Luke South was excellent on the bump for the guests. He went 7-1/3 innings, yielding only two hits and striking out five while issuing no walks. South was charged with two runs, one earned, in a no-decision.
The loss went to Koltin Sloss, who recorded one out in the eighth but was touched for two hits and the winning run.
Eli Gruefe was equally as brilliant for Madrid. He tossed 7-1/3 innings and was removed when he reached his 110th pitch, a new mandatory stop rule instituted this year. Gruefe, like South, allowed two runs, one of which was earned. He allowed four hits, walked two batters and struck out eight.
Colton Love earned the win by throwing two pitches and recording two outs in relief.
Cole Shannon, Logan Wicker, Landon Klatt and Gruefe had singles for Madrid, with Wicker, Bryce Dean and Nolan Owensby recording RBIs while Shannon, Klatt and Kody Carlson each scored once.
South was 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and run scored — on a Jeramy Randol single in the first — with Sloss also adding a hit. Justin Rolfes had a RBI as well and drew a pair of walks.
Panorama hosts Ogden Tuesday before visiting Van Meter Thursday.
