Union County Falls to Stephens County in Tight 1-0 Playoff Battle

The Union County Panthers varsity baseball team fell 1-0 to Stephens County in a tightly contested home playoff game on Saturday. Despite a masterful pitching performance and strong defense, the Panthers couldn’t find the offensive spark needed to counter a single run scored by the visitors in the fourth inning.

Gunnar Akins was the standout for Union County, delivering a complete seven-inning performance on the mound. Akins surrendered just one unearned run on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts over 99 pitches. His effort kept Stephens County’s offense at bay, but a defensive error in the fourth allowed the game’s only run to score.

Union County’s defense was solid, posting a .929 fielding percentage with 21 putouts and five assists. Akins, Bentley Rich, and Travis Tracy helped turn two double plays, showcasing the Panthers’ sharpness in the field. Despite two errors, the team limited Stephens County to six hits and prevented further scoring.

Offensively, the Panthers struggled, managing just four hits against Stephens County’s pitching. Akins led the way, going 2-for-3 at the plate, while Rich and Hayden Hughes each added a single. Union County left five runners on base and struck out five times, with Maddox Patton drawing the team’s only walk. The Panthers’ .160 batting average reflected the challenge posed by Stephens County’s defense and pitching.

The loss put the Panthers in a must-win situation for game two of the series.