Fannett-Metal(4-2) traveled to Loysburg to take on the Panthers(6-1) in an ICC game and dropped a hard fought game by score of 8-5.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first.  Jake Coffman hit a line drive into left center to get things started.  Coffman swiped second and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Landon Arnold.  After an out, Arnold scored when Adam Hammond’s fly dropped in for a RBI hit.  

The lead was short lived as the Panthers scored three runs(2 unearned) in the bottom of the inning off Tiger starter Wade Appleby to take a lead they would never relinquish. NBC added one unearned run in the 2nd, two runs in the 3rd, and two more runs in the 4th to take an 8-2 lead.

The Tigers went through four pitchers in the game. Appleby left in the 2nd with arm soreness. Daxton Detweiler relieved Appleby in the second but he too had some arm tightness. Adam Hammond pitched the 3rd and into the 4th before being lifted for Freshman Logan Hall. Hall pitched well and held the Panthers scoreless the last 2 2/3 innings.

The Tigers scored a run in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings to close the gap.  “We just couldn’t get the big hit in those innings as we left two runners in scoring position in all three of those innings”, Coffman said. 

The Tigers had seven hits on the day.  Appleby and Arnold each had a pair of hits, while Coffman, Hammond and Seibert all added a hit.  “ What the box score doesn’t show is we hit some balls right on the button today but they went for outs.  I’m proud of how we battled today. With our pitching situation and early mistakes, we could have packed it in, but we kept grinding and had a chance right up to the final out”, Coffman said.  

The Tigers host Mcconnellsburg tomorrow at 4:30 in another ICC match up.