By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - After losing by a pretty big margin to Watervliet in the first game 12-3, the Buchanan basbeall team took an early 5-3 lead to win the second game, which was called after five innings due to darkness.
The Panthers got their first six runs in the first two innings, one in the top of the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth.
The Bucks got their first two in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the sixth.
Eric Odom was the winning pitcher for Watervliet with Nathan Burke as the save. Jeremy Lucas was the losing pitcher for Buchanan with Aaron Koziel taking over in the third and Justin Helt.
Top hitters for the Bucks were Kyle Tracey with a triple, Lucas who went 2-4, Koziel with an RBI and a double and Mitchell Plott who went 2-3.
Nick Ursin had a double for Watervliet.
Phil Hamalka went 3-4, Odom went 2-4 and Robbie Holder went 2-4 for the Panthers.
In the second game the Bucks scored five runs in the bottom of the first.
Watervliet scored three in the top of the second and after two scoreless innings, the game was called due to darkness and Buchanan took the 5-3 game win.
Tracey was the winning pitcher with Helt the save.
Hamalka was the losing pitcher for Watervliet Top hitter for Buchanan was Plott, who went 2-2 with a double.
Matt Green had a double for the Panthers, Odom went 2-3 and Holder had a double.
The Bucks return to action on Monday when they travel to Cassopolis for a Lakeland Conference game set to begin at 4 p.m.