The Goldpanners (4-3-2) opened their four-game series against the Seattle Studs on Thursday. They picked up a 5-4 win behind a quick start from the offense, which collected five extra-base hits over the course of the contest.
The first scores of the game came off the bat of Mikey Bell, who unloaded on the ball, sending it to the warning track in center field for a double to bring in two runs. Alaska finished the first inning with three extra-base hits.
Seattle pulled a run back on a fielder’s choice in the top of the fourth, but the Goldpanners answered back with runs in their side of the fourth and fifth. The first came off a double from Isaiah Munoz, which was followed by an RBI single from Griffin Harrison in the fifth.
Things were going well for the Goldpanners as they led 5-1 and were seemingly on their way to a relatively uncomplicated path to victory. However, a late surge from the Studs flipped the game on its head. After a walk and two hit batters loaded the bases, Ben Schnurmann cleared the bags with a double, making it a 5-4 deficit for the visitors in the top of the eighth.
The Goldpanners worked around any further damage to hold their slim, and after failing to add any insurance in their half, they needed to do the same in the ninth. They managed to do so in quick fashion, retiring Seattle in consecutive fashion to close out the win.
As a team, the ‘Panners combined for eight hits, with two coming from Munoz (2-3), for the most of any player. He was joined by Bubba Rocha (1-3), Matt Leitermann (1-3), Bell (1-3), Harrison (1-3), Troy McCain (1-3) and Zach Doyle in the effort.
Four arms took the mound in the contest for Alaska. Cooper Bagby was strong in his start, going four innings with three strikeouts, three hits and no earned runs allowed. He was followed by Wade Lawson, Andrew Troppmann and Noah Smith, who earned the save after closing the game in the final inning.
The 119th Annual Midnight Sun Game awaits the two squads on Friday with a start time of 10 p.m. The Goldpanners and Studs will square off for game two of their series in what is one of the most highly-anticipated sporting events in the state, as the ‘Panners look to make it three wins in a row.
