A low-scoring pitchers duel turned into a wild slugfest on Friday as Salisbury
played host to New Franklin in Game of the Week baseball action which was heard on KMMO on Friday, April 8.

When the smoke finally cleared, it was the hometown Panthers who edged the Bulldogs 7-6 in nine innings as every run but one came with two out in an inning.

Tied 0-0 after three and a half innings, Salisbury scored an unearned run in the
bottom of the fourth to break the ice, and then Brady Graskewitz blasted a bases-loaded double in the fifth to widen the gap to 4-0.

It appeared that Salisbury was going to win the game in shutout fashion, but Jake Marshall, Connor Wilmsmeyer and Tanner Bishop all had two-out RBI hits in the seventh, enabling the Bulldogs to tie the score 4-4.

Then it was more of the same in extra innings as New Franklin got RBIs from Bishop and Clayton Wilmsmeyer to grab its first lead 6-4 in the top of the ninth.

However, Salisbury- with two on and two out- got RBI singles from Ethan Hamilton and Graskewitz to tie the game. Then, Dillon Moore followed with a run-scoring hit to end the game in walk-off fashion.

Both sides banged out 12 hits. Pacing the Panther attack was Hamilton with four singles and three runs scored. Graskewitz added a double, a single and four RBIs.

New Franklin was led by Bishop with two doubles, a single and three RBIs,
with Owen Armentrout banging out two doubles and a single. In addition, Marshall tacked on two singles, two runs scored and an RBI.

Ryan Binder got the win in relief for Salisbury, as Bulldog reliever Bishop suffered the loss.

Both teams’ starting pitchers, Hamilton for the Panthers and New Franklin’s Clayton Wilmsmeyer went at least seven innings for their side, but received no decision.

The Panthers are now 5-2, and New Franklin dropped to 5-4.