Early in the game, things were looking up for the New Carlisle Knights to gain their first win of the season. Early run production put the Knights in front of the Dayton Athletics, until the third inning hit.

Seven runs crossed the plate in the third, and the Athletics handed the Knights a tough 14-5 defeat.

The Knights scored in the first inning when Howard Wooten walked, moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on a hit from Phil Pierce giving the host team a 1-0 lead.

Two more runs came into score in the second inning, when Scott and Jason Love both walked to open the inning, and one out later, a single loaded the bases. Tom Helbig drove in one run with a single, and Dave Ridener added another run with a hit, making it 3-0.

The Athletics cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when consecutive singles with one out put the lead runner at third base, and when a ball was hit to right field, the runner at third came into score on the throw back to the infield, cutting the Knights lead to 2-1.

Then came the fateful third inning, where the Athletics took control of the game. Twelve batters came to the plate and seven runners scored. Run scoring hits came off the bats of Jason Parlett, Tony Duncan, Jamie Sexton, and Nathan Hammond, and along with walks and fielder’s choices, the Athletics enjoyed an 8-3 lead.

An inning later, they were at it again. An error by the Knights shortstop allowed a run to score, and a two-run single by Fred Parlett, added to their lead, and the Athletics took an 11-3 lead after four.

While the Knights continued to struggle at the plate, things continued to get worse. Three more runs crossed the plate in the fifth inning, as a triple was the key hit. The Athletics took a 14-3 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Knights tried for a comeback, as Adam Love reached on an error with one out, and while Bob Alexander was at the plate, Love came into score on an error.

The Knights final run came across in the seventh when Scott Love walked, Jason Love reached on a fielders choice, and Jim Clark drove in the run with a single.

* The Knights came back the next night, and won their first game of the season defeating the previously unbeaten Dayton Mudcats 14-6.

“We played solid defense against the Mudcats, and had several hits,” Knights manager Bob Alexander said. “It was a great evening for the team.”