By Robert Whitmire

The SPASH baseball team opened its 2017 Wisconsin Valley Conference schedule dropping a 6-3 decision to Marshfield Tuesday afternoon at Bukolt Park.

The loss leaves the Panthers with a 0 -2 record overall, 0-1 in the conference. Marshfield moves to 1-0 in conference play.

Following three scoreless innings, the Tigers blew the game open with six runs in the fourth, all with two outs. Marshfield sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring on three hits and two errors for the inning.

SPASH starting pitcher Dylan Trigg pitched more than three innings. Cameron Lee came on in relief in the top of the fourth and held the Tigers scoreless the remainder of the game. Trigg was the losing pitcher of record.

With two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, Gus Turner-Zick blasted a line shot to dead center for a stand up double. Brett Ehr and Joe Strigel crossed the plate to put the Panthers on the board at 6-2. Brandon Patoka stepped to the plate and reached first on an error by the Tiger third baseman scoring Turner-Zick from second base for the Panthers final run of the game.

SPASH stranded eight runners on base.

SPASH travels to Marshfield on Thursday, April 20 for a scheduled 4:30 PM game at Jack Hackman Field, then hits the road to DeForest on Saturday, April 22. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 10 AM.

Time of Game 2:11.