HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover baseball team wrapped up a busy weekend going 2-1 overall. The Panthers welcomed Rose-Hulman on Saturday afternoon winning game one 8-4 before trailing through eight complete innings in game two 7-2. Game two will be finished in a few weeks when the team heads to Terre Haute, Ind.
 
Sunday's doubleheader saw the Panthers hit the road as they split with the Ravens of Anderson. The Ravens claimed game one 10-2 before Hanover captured the nightcap, 8-6.
 
ROSE-HULMAN GAME ONE
Game one was led by senior Eli Copner (Zionsville, Ind.) pitching a complete game with six strikeouts. At the dish, sophomore Jacob Dupps (Louisville, Ky.) paced the way going 2-for-4 with a team-best two RBI.
 
Rose-Hulman struck first in the contest as they claimed the 2-0 advantage in the top of the third inning. However, Hanover responded in the bottom half of the fourth inning as sophomore Cole Sherman (Indianapolis, Ind.) delivered a sacrifice fly that scored freshman Connor Farnsley (Jeffersonville, Ind.) pulling HC within 2-1.
 
The Panthers would tie the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning as freshman Alex Christie (Greenwood, Ind.) continued his impressive freshman campaign picking up an RBI single. They claimed the lead later in the inning off the bat of Farnsley who reached on a Rose-Hulman miscue, 3-2.
 
The sixth inning would see the Panthers add two more runs for the 5-2 advantage, but Rose responded in the next half inning. The Fightin' Engineers plated two runs to cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
Hanover remained poise in the bottom of the eighth as junior Andrew Littlefield (Louisville, Ky.) collected an RBI before Dupps scored the final two runs of the afternoon with a single to left field.
 
ANDERSON GAME ONE
The Ravens jumped ahead early in game one scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning. They would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to blow the game wide open, 7-0.
 
However, the Panther offense looked to get something going at the plate as Christie was able to score following an Anderson wild pitch, 7-1.
 
But Anderson continued their hot streak as they added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
The Panthers looked to rally in the top of the ninth inning as another Ravens miscue scored a run for Hanover. However, it wasn't enough as the Black and Orange were able to retire the side and claim the win.
 
ANDERSON GAME TWO
The bats came alive in game two for Hanover as they scored five runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Zeke Porta (Louisville, Ky.) started the scoring frenzy as he homered putting HC on the board. Littlefield was not to be out down as he too sent a shot over the fence pushing the difference to 2-0.
 
Farnsley continued his impressive afternoon as he hit a double to the right side scoring two more Panther runners, 4-0. Freshman TJ Laplante (Sheridan, Ind.) closed out the inning as he collected an RBI off a fielders choice to the shortstop, 5-0.
 
Hanover would add another run in the top of the second inning as sophomore Le'ron Fleming  (Indianpolis, Ind.) picked up his first RBI of the game with a grounder to shortstop. But the Ravens refused to go-away as they were able to string together a series of runs cutting the deficit to 6-4 through five complete innings. Littlefield again deemed clutch at the dish as he delivered a long ball to right field that scored an insurance run, 7-4.
 
Anderson would get within 7-6 before a Littlefield sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth propelled the Blue and Red to the 8-6 victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, March 20 when they travel to Transylvania. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 PM.