It was a split decision for the Knoxville Baseball and Softball squads in Nevada on Monday night as both Panther squads opened up their 2021 seasons. On the baseball field, Knoxville took care of Nevada 6-1 and got the offense going in the first inning with a Bode Cox double scoring one run. Knoxville struck again in the 3rd inning when Luke Spaur singled and Cox once again batted home another run to score Spaur. The Panthers slammed the door shut on the Cubs in the 7th with two more runs. Beau Leisure got the win going two innings, allowing no runs on no hits, struck out five and walked two. Coach Turner Devore tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the schedule is not kind to the Panthers the first two weeks of the season, and he hopes it gets his team ready for the second half of the season…

Devore:
“If we’re 500 after two weeks that would get us in a good position, and hopefully we don’t struggle so we hope to play well. It’s going to be tough because we can’t throw guys due to back-to-back double headers and conference starts, so it’ll be an interesting first week.”

Knoxville begins the season at 1-0. It was a different result on the softball field as Knoxville fell to Nevada in its season opener 4-3. Knoxville scored in the 2nd inning on a Melanie Sullivan home run. Nevada scored one in the 2nd and again in the 4th to take a 2-1 lead. Knoxville would put two more on the board in the 6th, but Nevada counted with two of its own to make the final margin. Ashlyn Finarty took the loss going two innings giving up two runs on two hits, striking out four and walking one. Knoxville is 0-1 and will host Oskaloosa tonight a game you can hear on 95.3 KNIA at 7:30.