A 13 strikeout performance by Beau Leisure went for not on Thursday as the Knoxville Baseball Squad fell to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 1-0 when the Rockets got a walk off on an error to get the win as heard on 95.3 KNIA. Both Leisure and Rockets pitcher Braxton Malloy kept each other’s teams at bay for nearly seven innings with EBF threatening in the 5th with runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs and Leisure would strike out the side to end the threat. Knoxville also got runners at 2nd and 3rd during a two out rally in the 6th but was unable to plate any of them. Panthers Coach Turner Devore told KNIA/KRLS Sports their approach to the plate needs to be better.

Devore: “We’ve talked about being aggressive as long as the balls are hit hard, and I wouldn’t say they were hit hard, but we have to be better at the plate, but that happens sometimes.”

The Panthers were held without a hit but got seven runners on base with four in scoring position. Leisure took the hard luck loss and has struck out 28 batters in his last two starts. Knoxville is now 5-3 and 2-1 in the South Central Conference. A trip to Centerville for a varsity double header ends the week for the Panthers tonight.

The Knoxville Softball Squad stayed unbeaten with a gritty win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 4-3 on Thursday night. The Panthers seemed in control in the late innings up 3-1. The Rockets, however tied it in the bottom of the 6th at three, but Knoxville added a run in the 7th when Ciara Heffron reached on an error that brought home Ashlyn Finarty. Heffron then struck out the side in the bottom of the 7th to preserve the win. Finarty earned the win going 5 2/3 allowing three runs on six hits and striking out three. Heffron got the save, throwing an inning and third of no-hit ball and striking out all four batters she faced. Knoxville is now 5-0 and 1-0 in the South Central Conference. The Panthers head to Centerville tonight.