NTL BASEBALL: TIGERS WIN OPENER ON WALK-OFF (2023-03-28)
Northern Tier West Sports ReportMANSFIELD — After losing an early 4-run lead to NEB, the Tigers rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at eight each and senior Peyton Gunderson delivered a walk-off single to lift North Penn-Mansfield to a 9-8 season-opening win over the Panthers here Tuesday.
Kade Kurzejewski led off the seventh and reached base on an error. After an Easton Pequignot sacrifice bunt moved Kurzejewski into scoring position, Gunderson delivered the walk-off single to score Kurzejewski and secure the comeback win for the Tigers.
Alex Davis and Litzelman each had a pair of hits for the Tigers, and each had a double, as Davis added a pair of RBI and a run scored and Litzelman scored twice.
Karson Dominick had an RBI single, delivered in the sixth inning when the junior clean-up hitter drove in Cooper Shaw for the game-tying run. Litzelman and Pequignot had both scored earlier in the sixth.
The Tigers had 10 hits in the game .. by eight different players. Kohen Lehman had a double for NPM, while Cody Hermansen, Pequignot and Oakes added singles.
Oakes’ base hit came in the Tigers’ three-run second inning and scored Hermansen, who had singled. Davis and Litzelman added hits in the inning.
Litzelman’s double came in the first inning and the senior would score to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Davis started on the mound for Mansfield and went four innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Shaw would relieve Davis and throw the fifth inning, giving up three runs .. two earned .. on three hits with two K’s.
Dominick earned the win in relief, taking over for Shaw in the sixth and finishing the game allowing no hits and one unearned run with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.
The Tigers (1-0) will return to action Thursday with a visit to Tioga Junction to play Williamson.
PHOTOS: Melissa Lehman
