BASEBALL: Panthers swept by Waterloo in doubleheader

The baseball Panthers were swept in a Saturday doubleheader against Waterloo, getting whipped 12-2 in game one before being shut out 5-0 in game two, where they managed only three hits.

The powerful Bulldogs lineup plated three runs in the top of the first in game one before Pinckneyville got one of the back in the bottom of the inning after doubles from Tyler Rulevish and Jacob Louis.

But after PCHS starter Cole Bigham seemed to have settled in during innings two through four, Waterloo's offense kicked into overdrive in the top of the fifth with three runs on four hits.

The Bulldogs tacked on four more in the top of the sixth, thanks to three walks, an error and a double, and led 11-1 before the Panthers forced a seventh inning with back-to-back doubles from Nolan Luke and J. Louis to start the bottom of the sixth.

Rulevish (1-4, R, 2B), Luke (1-3, R), J. Louis (2-3, 2 RBI, 2B), Bigham (1-3), Brady Louis (1-3) and Miles Chandler (1-3) had the Panthers' seven hits in game one.

Hayden Carter and Luke allowed only five Bulldog hits in the second game, but a combination of five walks and two hit batters gave Waterloo some extra base runners and more than enough run support to hold off PCHS.

Trent Hicks (2-3) and Jackson Brand (1-2) had the only hits for the Panthers, who stranded all five base runners they had in game two.

Carter worked five innings and allowed two hits, four walks and two hit batters with six strikeouts. Luke finished off the game with two innings of work and allowed three hits and a walk.

The Panthers (7-9, 2-2) resume conference play on Monday at Du Quoin.