The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Rockets kept it close for a while, but Knoxville Baseball pulled away late in a convincing 16-3 win on Friday night in Eddyville. Sophomore Ben Wallace (4-2) started on the mound and earned the pitching win for the Panthers. He struck out three during four scoreless innings of work. Blake McClung and Tanner Sharp also pitched in relief. Knoxville scored first when Wallace drove in McClung with an RBI single in the first inning. After a McClung triples to lead off the third inning, Wallace repeated the feat for his team leading 20th RBI to give Knoxville a 2-0 lead. A sac fly from Rylan Cox made it 3-0 before Knoxville blew the game open with a five run fifth inning where both Calyn Bumgardner and DJ Snyder had 2 RBI hits. Then the Panthers added an exclamation point with eight runs in the seventh. Jacob Zuck along with McClung, Bumgardner and Wallace all had multiple hits in the game. Knoxville Baseball Head Coach Joel Johnson told KNIA/KRLS Sports that he is really encouraged by the adjustments his young team is making at the plate and their acceptance of coaching. Knoxville is now 9-10 overall and 8-2 in the South Central Conference. They are next in action with a doubleheader at Centerville on Monday with first place on the line.

At Eddyville

Kville 101 015 8 – 16 12 5
E-B-F 000 001 2 – 3 4 7

WP – Ben Wallace (4-2)
LP – K.J. McCrea (0-3)

Knoxville 9-10 (8-2)
EBF 6-14 (3-8)