COLUMBUS – Norfolk baseball could not keep pace with Columubus yesterday as the Panthers saw an early lead dissapate in a 6-2 loss to the Discoveres to open the season.
Norfolk stuck first in the top of the first, loading the bases on a Jordan Schnoor walk and singles from Wyatt Clapp and Ayden Papstein before two passed balls allowed Schnoor and Clapp to score for an early 2-0 Norfolk lead.
Columbus would respond with a three-run bottom of the first via a Camden Gustafson walk, a Brody Lindhorst sac fly and a Panther error.
The game would remain 3-2 until the bottom of the sixth, when Columbus tacked on another three runs via a Conner Cameron two-RBI triple and a Conner Williams single.
Colon Rausch earned the win for Columbus on the mound, allowing just one hit with a strikeout over 2.2 innings of relief work. Matthew Krueger stepped on the bump first for the Discoveres, surrendering two runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts over three innings pitched.
Papstein suffered the pitching loss for Norfolk as the junior gave up three runs on two hits with four walks in four innings of work.
Papstein led Norfolk at the plate as well, collecting two hits on the day, while Alex Makshantsev came away with two stolen bases.
Cameron, Williams Jack Holys and Laithenn Braithwait each collected a hit for Columbus while Cameron led the Discoveres with two runs batted in.
Norfolk will next be in action later this afternoon for a 4:30 road contest at Lincoln East.