Panthers edged out by Wildcats 4-3

MARION - Connor Followell's double in the fourth inning chased around Cory Howard for what proved to be the winning run as Marion edged Pinckneyville, 4-3, Wednesday in prep baseball at the Crisp Sports Complex.<br />Marion, which lost a heartbreaker to Murphysboro a day earlier, is now 6-1 for the season, while Pinckneyville's record is even at 3-3.<br />Both teams did most of their damage early.<br />Pinckneyville got on the board quickly with two runs against Marion starter Brandon Lynn after Miles Chandler doubled to lead off the game and Tyler Rulevish singled. An error helped the cause and Brian Kling ripped an RBI single and Jordan Koester also got a hit before Kyle Luke struck out to end the frame.<br />Marion quickly grabbed the lead, however, with three runs in the bottom of the first.<br />Hez Goodman and Lynn both drew walks from Pinckneyville starter Grant Jausel, then after Brendan Soldner extended the inning by reaching on an error, freshman Josh Griffin ripped a two-run single and Howard plated Soldner with a single.<br />The Panthers tied it back up on an RBI double by Rulevish in the top of the second and it stayed that way until Followell's double in the fourth, which followed a single from Howard.<br />Lynn struck out six in five innings and Howard relieved in the sixth and fanned three. <br />Howard was helped in the seventh when Josh Griffin, who is Marion's usual starting catcher but came in off the bench, gunned down Rulevish trying to steal second after drawing a one-out walk.<br />Howard then walked Austin Aslpach but struck out Dylan Carns to end the game.<br />Alspach, Carns, Luke and Ethan Bowen also had hits in addition to Chandler, Rulevish Koester and Kling for the Panthers.<br />Marion is in the middle of a packed week and plays at Cahokia on Thursday and at Massac County on Friday before hosting Plano on Saturday.<br />Pinckneyville travels to Steeleville on Thursday.