The Panthers went back to Elkhart for the third time in a row on Sunday, looking for the extra push to finally get in the win column. After 8.5 innings of play, the Miracle finished stronger once again. Indiana out-hit Elkhart County by eight but couldn't get it done with runners in scoring position.

The Panthers struck first on the board after Demetrio Guizar reached on an error and was brought all the way around by Colin Early's double. The Panthers felt confident in their 1-0 lead.

The Miracle had two walks in the bottom of the first to start their day at the plate. A fielder's choice gave them a run back to tie the game. Bats went silent until the bottom of the third when Elkhart walked, singled, reached on an error, and singled two more times to take a 4-1 lead.

Indiana began their fight back in the top of the sixth starting with Michael Pustelnik's blooper over the shortstop's head to lead off. Colin Early reached on an error to put runner on first and second. Gino Gazzillo forced a fielder's choice to advance Pustelnik to third and Vinnie Marvucic took the sac fly to bring him home, cutting the Miracle lead in half. Brek Baranoski singled right after to put runners at the corners for Jack Salzeider who shot a line drive to left to put another run on the board. The Panthers continued their stride in the seventh starting with Dillon Romano's leadoff double. Demetrio Guizar hit a single over the second baseman's head to score Romano and tie the game. Colin Early doubled to center to bring Guizar home and take a lead with two innings left in the game.

Elkhart County walked in a runner in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at five. They worked their way through the eighth by walking two and driving a run home with a line drive to take the lead and ultimately win the game.

Anthony Scanlon started on the mound for the Panthers, pitching six innings and only giving up one earned run and four hits. The five walks he gave might have been the difference in today's game.

Gino Gazzillo pitched the other two innings, giving up one earned run and walking four. Gazzillo ended up taking the loss on the mound.

The loss for the Panthers could be blamed on a number of things. Firstly, the team bat .333 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners stranded on the bases. Secondly, the pitching from both of our pitchers was not to the expectations of the fans, especially given that Scanlon had the best ERA on the team going into the game. Finally, some controversial calls were made against Indiana. The biggest one being called in the top of the ninth when Colin Early and Michael Pustelnik were caught stealing on what some fans believed should have been a dead ball due to a check swing appeal to the base umpire. Overall, it is easy to blame one person or one incident for the team's loss, but the team is responsible for the loss together.

The boys play again on Monday at 7 p.m. in Griffith against the Generals. Jaden Jones is expected to be on the mound. The game can be viewed on the Panthers or Generals Facebook page.