BASEBALL: Big inning, solid pitching lift Panthers over Rams

One big inning and a two strong performances on the mound carried Pinckneyville to a 6-2 win over visiting Mt. Vernon on Wednesday, as the Panthers plated five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the victory in their season opener.

Lefty starter Cole Bigham retired the side in order in the first and pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, giving his offense a chance to put the Panthers in front in their second trip to the dish.

Jacob Louis led off the bottom of the second with a single, Justin Bauersachs walked, and with one out, Brian Kling was hit by a pitch to load the sacks. With two down, sophomore leadoff hitter Tyler Rulevish drove in a pair, and Nolan Luke followed with a two-run double before later scoring on an error. After nine Panthers batted in the inning, PCHS had built a 5-0 lead.

Bigham lost some command in the top of the third and walked three Rams, but limited the damage to a single run before exiting after three solid innings of work. Hayden Carter took over from there, tossing the final four innings and allowing just an unearned run to pick up the victory on the hill.

"We got a big two-run hit by Tyler Rulevish and followed that up with another two-run hit from Nolan Luke to kind of blow it open," said PCHS head coach Gabe Shepard. "Our pitchers struggled a little bit with the strike zone today, but it's early, and they battled and did a great job. Hayden Carter threw four really good innings at the end, and Cole Bigham pitched great and kept us in the game early on."

"For it being our first game, I thought we did great. Defense was a little shaky, but the field isn't in very good shape right now either. It's wet and a little bit clumpy, but it'll come around."

Rulevish was a perfect 3-for-3 (2B) with a run scored and two runs batted in to pace the Pinckneyville offense. Luke (1-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B), Louis (1-3, R) and Adam Banach (1-3, 2B) also had hits for the Panthers.

Bigham allowed just one hit, walked five and struck out two. Carter gave up three hits, a walk, and struck out three.

Pinckneyville travels to Okawville on Friday.