The Onalaska Wildcats started the 2025 baseball season on the road Tuesday against Anahuac, losing a heartbreaker to the Panthers in extra innings.
Onalaska got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Carson Davies hit a line drive to centerfield, scoring Jarrett Purkerson from second base and giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
They scored again in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI-single to right field by Thad Lilley, giving them a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
Lilley was the opening day starter for the Wildcats, and he was outstanding. He held the Panthers hitless until the bottom of the sixth, when Anahuac first baseman, Ty Wilcox, got their only hit of the game on a line drive to right field. Two batters later, the Panthers scored their first run on a Wildcat error that allowed Wilcox to score.
Anahuac tied the game 2-2 in the seventh inning on another Wildcat error. After two big plays by Wildcat third baseman, Colin Vann, the game headed to extra innings. Purkerson came in to pitch the eighth inning, but the Wildcats couldn’t hold off the Panthers, dropping a 3-2 game in the bottom of the eighth on a close play at the plate.
“It’s tough to lose a game like that, but we’ll bounce back,” Onalaska head coach Cody Pinkert said.
Lilley had a good game on the mound, going seven innings, allowing only one hit and no earned runs with three walks and nine strikeouts.
“That kid never ceases to amaze me,” Pinkert said.
Lilley also went 2-for-5 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Jake Gibson had a great game for the Wildcats, going 3-for-3 with a walk. Onalaska outhit the Panthers 7-1 but, left 12 runners on base.
The Wildcats travel to Lumberton Tuesday to face the Lumberton Raiders. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
