GREENVILLE, Ill. - The baseball team bounced back nicely from a disappointing Wednesday night game against Millikin and defeated Westminster 21-8 in a seven-inning shortened game on Thursday night. The Panthers and Blue Jays played the contest a night early in anticipation of severe weather on Friday.

The Panthers led for the entirety of the contest, taking 1-0 and 3-0 leads after the first and second innings, respectively.

The Blue Jays cut the lead to 3-2 with runs in the third and fourth innings, but the Panthers exploded for 13 runs in the fourth inning to build a 16-2 lead.

Westminster added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Panthers jumped back with five in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 21-4.

The Blue Jays reached the Panthers for four runs in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough to extend the game another inning.

Greenville finished with numerous outstanding offensive efforts.

Drew Frey was 2-for-2 with four runs, one RBI, and three walks.

Landon Mokris was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI.

Nathan Eye homered, scored three times, and drove in three runs while Rhett Pennington had a three runs scored.

Tanner Gerdes posted a 2-for-4 hitting performance with one run scored and two RBI.

Braden Maltbie earned the win in Thursday's start. He pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts.

Craig Oertel pitched two-thirds of an inning in the seventh and gave up four runs on three hits and two walks. Jaxen Gibson recorded the final out on the mound.

The Panthers (8-10, 2-0 SLIAC) will host Westminster in a Saturday doubleheader.