Pekin tops Cardinal in five

PACKWOOD ? Pekin was in top form Thursday evening as it took a 14-4 make-up game over Cardinal in five innings.

With temperatures in the mid-90s throughout the game, the Panthers started quick against Cardinal starter Conner McElderry. Hunter Maeder?s two-RBI triple highlighted a five-run first inning as Pekin went on to rack up 12 hits.

?At this point, it was good to hit the ball and get a win,? said Pekin head coach Jeff Eeling. ?It was a hot day, but all the guys played hard and played pretty well.?

Graham Wittrock finished 3-4 with two RBI and scored the game-ending run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth. Tyson Lamb also had a big day going 2-3 with a double, and Derek Morales hit a two-run homer in the second.

Morales was also the winning pitcher going all five innings, striking out four Comets while giving up three hits and no earned runs.

Charlie Rachford went 2-3 with two RBI while Josh Kent tallied the other Cardinal hit.

Pekin will welcome Mediapolis for an SEISC north division doubleheader tonight while the Comets have the unenviable task of hosting No. 7 Davis County on their home field.

Pekin vs. Cardinal

Cardinal ? 0 0 1 2 1 X X ? 4 3 2

Pekin ? 5 2 4 0 3 X X ? 1412 3

Pekin ? Sterling 0-2, BB, R; Lamb 2-3, 2B, BB, R; Wittrock 3-4, 2RBI, 4R; Morales 1-3, HR, 3RBI, 2R; Donovan 0-3; T. Clubb 1-2, BB, R; Maeder 2-3, 3B, 2RBI, R; Swanson 1-3, RBI; Wolcott 1-2, R; Slaney 0-1, R; P. Clubb R

Pitching ? Morales (W) 5 INN, 3H, 6BB, 4K, 0ER

CARDINAL ? Rachford 2-3, 2RBI; Olson 0-3; Short 0-2, BB; Schlegel 0-2; Schwartz 0-3; Kent 1-1, BB, R; Kayser 0-2, BB, RBI, R; Showman 0-1, 2BB, R; Roe 0-2; Eklofe 0-1, R

Pitching ? McElderry (L) 4 INN, 10H, BB, K, 10ER