Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Ending the regular season and capping off a six-game road trip, the Panther baseball team fell to the number 10-ranked Clay Center Tigers.
In game one, the Panthers lost 11-5.
The NCKL rivals were in a defensive duel for the first 3.5 innings, with the Panthers striking out five times, but the Tigers having eight groundouts. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Tigers scored first, and a lot, bringing in eight runs, including a solo home run and a grand slam. Concordia responded with three runs in the fifth, including a two-run home run from Drake Blochlinger, to make it an 8-3 game. Clay Center scored a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to make it an 11-3 game. The Panthers brought in two runs in the seventh off another Blochlinger home run, before the Tigers got out three to take game one.
In game two, the Panthers lost 15-5.
The Tigers scored first, bringing in five runs in the second inning. Concordia was able to take a chunk out of the lead, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 5-3 Tiger lead. Clay Center countered in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to make it a 9-3 game. The Panthers scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Tigers slammed the door shut with six runs in the sixth inning to take game two.
