KOKOMO, Ind. – The Hanover Panthers advanced to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship game on Saturday evening, keeping their title hopes alive.
 
The Panthers claimed their first elimination game against Anderson 6-1 before handing Transylvania their first loss 6-4.
 
PITCHING STAFF
The Panther pitching staff dominated the competition as both starters, senior Marcus Goodpaster (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Dalton Sisson (Bowling Green, Ky.) went the distance. In game one, Goodpaster made his first debut since early April throwing a complete game with three strikeouts and only 96 total pitches.
 
Sisson closed out the evening with a complete game of his own allowing just four runs on 84 pitches thrown. He added four K's.
 
GAME ONE – ANDERSON
Junior Jake Danneman (Edgewood, Ky.) placed an exclamation point on the contest early as the junior tripled to right field giving HC the 3-0 advantage in the top of the second inning.
 
The Panthers added an insurance run in the seventh inning as senior Alex Christie (Greenwood, Ind.) collected the RBI, 4-0.
 
Sophomore Robert Carroll (Hendersonville, Tenn.) extended the difference in the eighth inning before senior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) used a solo home run in the ninth inning to secure the game advancing win.
 
GAME TWO – TRANSYLVANIA
Much like last night, the Panthers surged ahead first. Leading the charge was Danneman with a RBI to second base, 1-0.
 
The Pioneers would tie the contest in the fourth inning before taking the 2-1 advantage.
 
However, the momentum was quickly swindled as junior Sam Perkins (Louisville, Ky.) tripled to right field sparking a three run sixth.
 
Junior Matthew McCoy (Charlestown, Ind.) added a key run in the seventh inning that helped push the contest out of reach.
 
Hanover and Transylvania return to the diamond on Sunday, May 12 in a winner takes all match-up at noon.