After a bust weekend, the Rugby Panthers got a win in the first home baseball game of the season against the Bishop Ryan Lions.

The Panthers won the first game 2-1, with the second game being called due to weather.

The Panthers drew first blood, getting a run in the first inning. The Lions did not get on the board until the fifth inning. Junior Isaiah Johnson going 1-for-3 with an RBI helped seal the deal for the Panthers.

Senior Anders Johnson contributed at the mound in addition to going 2-for-3.

For the Lions, the game saw both Mason Hedberg and Joey Zeece go 1-for-3 from the field.

First two games end in losses

The Panthers traveled to Dwyer Field in Bismarck last week to play two games in the Shiloh Christian Jamboree.

The first game of the weekend ended after nine innings in a 3-2 heartbreaker against the Grafton Spoilers. The Spoilers were able to get one run in the first inning. The Panthers were scoreless until the fourth inning, when they managed two runs. The Spoilers tied things up again in the next inning. Both teams would be scoreless for nearly four innings until the Spoilers caught a run.

The second game was a one-sided, seven inning affair against the Park River-Fordville-Lankin Aggies. The Aggies were able to get runs in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings for a 4-0 victory against the Panthers.

The Panthers only got one hit in both games.

The Panthers played in Dunseith on Thursday. Games on deck for the Panthers include a road game in Bottineau on Monday (April 17) and a home game against North Star on Friday (April 21).

– Tribune Staff Report