Panthers pounce on Pangburn for first-round win at 2A state

PANGBURN — Eight runs in the first inning powered Magnet Cove to a 12-1 win in the opening round of the Class 2A state baseball tournament on Thursday against the host team.

Magnet Cove (16-14) won the third-place game of the 2A-South Regional tournament on Saturday, 12-8, against Rison (10-12) in Poyen to be matched up with Pangburn (2011), the No. 4 seed from the 2A-West/Central, in the first round at state. The Panthers rolled, 12-1, Thursday to advance to today’s quarterfinals with Palestine Wheatley (239), which had a bye on Thursday as the No.

1 seed from the 2A-North.

Their quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in Pangburn. The winner will advance to the first semifinal of the 2A tournament on Saturday at noon.

Magnet Cove scored on an error, a double by sophomore Luke Upton, a groundout by sophomore Brennen Koller, an error, a triple by junior Justin McKim and a single by senior Hunter Dickey in the first inning. The visitors, as the home team on the scoreboard, added four more runs in the fourth inning.

McKim, Dickey and sophomore Javin Shirley were each walked to load the bases with no outs. McKim scored on fourth consecutive walk as junior J.T. Higdon reached base.

A line drive double to left field by Koller scored Dickey and Shirley. Freshman Lucas Smeltzer was hit by a pitch and the fifth walk of the inning forced in Higdon.

Magnet Cove only had five hits in the game, but the Panthers batters earned eight walks and only struck out three times. Three Magnet Cove batters were also hit by pitches and the Tigers committed two errors in the field.

McKim was 2-for-3 at the plate with one walk and three runs. Dickey, Shirley and Higdon each scored two runs apiece.

McKim also pitched all five innings for Magnet Cove. He allowed just one unearned run on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. The Tigers scored their only run on an error and a wild pitch in the top of the first inning.