BASEBALL: Panthers hold on to win at Marion
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[After building a six-run lead, it was an insurance tally in the top of the seventh inning that paid big dividends in Pinckneyville's 7-6 win over Marion on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Crisp Sports Complex.
Pinckneyville righthander Evan Chapman kept the Wildcats baffled for four innings, during which he gave up just two hits and struck out six batters, including the side in the fourth, with no walks.
But the Wildcats chipped away at a 6-0 deficit against reliver Noah Hepp with three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh and had the winning run at the plate with two outs, but shortstop Bryant Shute came on in relief and induced an infield popup from one of Marion's top hitters, Travis Barnett, to end the game.
The difference ended up being Brandon Long's run-scoring single in the top of the frame that produced the seventh tally.
"That one run in the seventh ended up being a big one," said Pinckneyville coach Alan Engelhardt. "We just have to stay away from the big innings. Give credit to Marion, they could have quit and battled back. We made some miscues and they capitalized and then in the seventh started swinging the bats well. Bryant made a big pitch to get us out of it there."
Pinckneyville (6-2) built its big lead on the strength of Marian Brammeier's two-run double off Marion starter Brocton McGuire in the second inning and Shute creating his speed to create his usual havoc on the bases and produce a run in the third. Then in the sixth, Matthew Nichols plated two runs with a two-out single off reliever Michael Reeves to make it 6-0.
During that time, Chapman was cruising on the mound in an audition to become the Panthers' No. 2 starter during the SIRR Mississippi Division portion of the schedule, which ramps up this week.
"We were trying to split the game up and see who we were going to throw on Tuesday and Evan threw four superb innings and so he gets the ball on Tuesday," Engelhardt said. "And I thought we got back to swinging the bats pretty well today. We're not going to have a lot of guys hit home runs but we hit a lot of singles and did some things on the bases to get some extra runs."
Marion (4-5) never rolled over, however, and took advantage of a throwing error by Panthers catcher Adam Barczewski to get on the scoreboard in the seventh. The error allowed Aaron Hancock to scurry home and preceded Ryan Null's two-run single that cut the margin in half.
But Pinckneyville's rally for an insurance tally in the top of the seventh cashed in big time.
Marion again mounted a charge in the bottom hafl as Mason Dodd singled and came home on a hit by Brock Webb, who then came around on a double by McGuire. The tension increased when Bradley knocked in two more runs with a single and stood on second base as the tying run with two outs, but Shute came on to get Barnett and the Panthers escaped.
"We just dug too big of a hole," said Marion coach Marty Manfredo. "We've really struggled with the bats early here in the year and I thought the last couple of innings we finally started taking the approach we've been preaching: When you're ahead in the count, try and drive it; when you're behind, just try and put it in play."
The Panthers take on Anna-Jonesboro at home on Monday (4:30 p.m.).