BURTON RALLY FALLS SHORT IN 15-14 LOSS TO JOHNSON CITY

The Burton Panther Baseball Team nearly pulled off the come-from-behind rally, but it was ultimately the Johnson City Eagles, who took the first game in a slugfest 15-14.

Johnson City jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first inning. They would later add two more in the third inning to make it 12-0.

Burton then started their comeback with a four run fourth inning. Pierson Spies led it off with a double, and then scored on an RBI triple by Chet Fritsch. Kaiden Kalkhake singled home Fritsch. Carson Lauter was hit by a pitch. Bryson Biggs singled home Kalkhake, and then Ryder Biggs singled home Lauter to make it a 12-4 game.

The Eagles added one in the fourth to extend their lead to 13-4.

The Panthers rallied with an eight run fifth inning. Vicente Veliz led it off with a double. Spies followed with a walk. Fritsch then hit a two run triple to bring them both in. Kalkhake doubled home Fritsch. Colby Beck got hit by a pitch. Lauter walked. Bryson Biggs came through with a two run single to bring home Beck and Lauter. Ryder Biggs reached on an infield hit. Eli Simank reached on an error that scored Bryson. Fritsch hit a sac fly to score Ryder, and the lead was down to 13-12.

Johnson City added two runs in the sixth to make it 15-12.

In the top of the 7th, Ryder Biggs walked, and Veliz singled. Spied followed with an RBI single to score Ryder, and Kalkhake hit an RBI singled home Veliz to make it 15-14.

The game was suspended for 35 minutes due to a lightning delay. When play resumed, Johnson City went to their ace Johnny Slawinski, who is scheduled to start game two, and he struck out Colby Beck to end the game.

The series continues Saturday at noon in Liberty Hill. KWHI will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 11:30am.