NEW RICHLAND &045; You could tell early in the game that hits were going to be tough to come by.

The Triton Cobras got one too many.

A two-run home run by Ryan Fate in the fifth inning was the difference as Triton defeated New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 3-2 in a sub-section baseball game at New Richland Tuesday.

It was just the fourth loss of the season against 18 wins for the Panthers, who remain alive in the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament. They’ll play Thursday at LeSueur, though the game time and their opponent was not set as of Tuesday night.

As for Tuesday’s game, NRHEG coach Jeff Reese said about the only thing he’d change is the outcome.

&uot;It was a well played game, two tough pitchers locking horns, a great tournament feeling with a lot of fans there,&uot; said Reese. &uot;The only thing is that we lost.&uot;

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jason Churchill led off with a single, stole second, took third on passed ball and scored on an errant throw.

Triton tied it in the fourth, leaving the bases loaded, and took the lead on Fett’s drive over the center field fence in the fifth.

The Panthers got their other run in the sixth, when Joey Balfe walked and scored on a single by Michael Hullopeter.

Hullopeter went 2-for-3. Churchill had the only other hit off Triton pitcher Britton Wolf, who struck out 15 and walked two.

Hullopeter pitched a complete game for NRHEG. He walked one and struck out five.

&uot;We had our chances,&uot; said Reese. &uot;We just need to adjust with two strikes on us.&uot;

Triton 3, NRHEG 2

T

000

120

0 &045; 3

9

2

NR

100

001

0 &045; 2

3

3

LP &045; Michael Hullopeter