With unfortunate irony, the Sullivan baseball team began the season Tuesday much like they ended last year’s–with a one-run loss to Pana.

Despite taking a 4-0 lead in the first, Sullivan couldn’t get out of the second inning as the Panthers took advantage of walks and two-out hits to post seven runs.

“Nick (Frerichs) was one out away from getting out of the inning giving up just the one run, but we couldn’t get that third out, and they made us pay,” said head coach Troy Rogers.

The Redskins didn’t go down without a fight though, as they held Pana scoreless through the next two innings and eventually tied the game in the fourth.

But the Panthers added two more runs in the fifth, and despite Sullivan’s last ditch effort in the seventh with one run, they came up short once again against Pana.

“The effort was there. We played pretty well defensively and hit the ball very well at times. There is still a lot of work to do to get where we want to be,” said Rogers. “We will turn the page and get ready for Mattoon Friday. You learn from it and move on.”