Crown Point, IN- The Panthers came to the league-leading Corn Dog’s home ballpark with something to prove. They came off a devastating loss to the Oilmen where they failed to maintain a multi-run lead into the last inning of play. Up until then, the Panthers were playing much better baseball since the beginning of the season and had another tough task in a road competition against the 10-2 Lake County Corn Dogs. The Corn Dogs were also pitching their ace so far this season who was coming into the game with a 2-0 record and a 1.00 ERA.

The Panthers jumped on a lead in the first inning as Tommy Benson made it 1-0 with a RBI-double. With two outs, Gino Guzzillo stepped up to the plate and came through with a 2-RBI single.

Bubba Davenport was making his first start of the season and had a tough lineup to mow-down. The Corn Dogs picked up one in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the second, one swing of the bat was all it took for the Panthers to get that run back. Jason Ballard ripped one over the left field wall for his first homer of the season. The Panthers were now up 4-1.

The score remained up until the top of the fourth. The Panthers put up a crooked number courtesy of three runs on three hits and a handful of free passes. Benson hit another RBI-double and Jonny Crowell hit a SAC-fly. Guzzillo picked up his third RBI of the day as he got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 

The Corn Dogs picked up two in the bottom half of the inning to make it 7-3, Panthers. They chipped away even more the following inning and added two more off of Davenport to make it a seemingly brand new ballgame. 

The Panthers bats stayed hot as Sohrab Rezaei smacked one right up the middle to bring in two Panther runs.

Fast forward to the bottom of the eighth inning with the score being 9-5, the Corn Dogs had a mammoth inning. They clawed all the way back to only be down one run. Brendon Meyers struggled with his command and newly signed Adan Vega inherited the tying-run at second base with one out. Vega got two crucial outs to maintain the lead. 

The Panthers made sure to get one more in the top of the ninth as Tommy Benson finished his day off with his third RBI by reaching on a fielder’s choice and bringing in Alonzo Raigosa for his second run of the day. 

Vega had to get three outs in the ninth to secure the win as well as his first save of the season. He walked the leadoff batter, got Nielson to flyout, then walked Balboa. He then got the groundball he wanted, but the Panthers were unable to turn two. Vega then produced a comebacker right back to him that he took to first unassisted for the win.

The Panthers are looking to build off of their 10 run and 11 hit performance as they remain on the road and will take on the Griffith Generals Monday, June 12 at 7 p.m. CT.