WESSON – The Wesson Cobras suffered a tough, 6-4 loss to the Morton Panthers Friday night in the first game of the best-of-three series of the second round in Class 3A state baseball playoffs.

“We had opportunities, just couldn’t get the job done when we had the chance,” said Wesson coach Seth Lofton. “I’m proud of how hard our guys played. At this point everybody’s pretty good, to win games you’ve got to drive runs in when you get the chance.”

The Cobras (18-6) were scheduled to traveled to Morton Saturday to battle the Panthers in the second game at 7 p.m., but the contest was postponed until Monday due to the weather. If a third game is needed the series will return to Wesson Tuesday for a 7 p.m. start.

Morton 6, Wesson 4 

The Panthers kicked off the first inning with two runs to claim an early 2-0 lead, but Wesson battled back, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning.

The score remained the same until the third, when the Panthers caught fire and outscored the Cobras 4-0 in the next four innings. Morton scored two runs in the third, one run in the fourth and added another run in the sixth inning to increase their lead to 6-1.

In the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, the Cobras threatened to make a comeback, scoring three runs to cut down Morton’s lead to 6-4, but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers escaped with the win.

Coby Gilbert was the winning pitcher for Morton with nine strikeouts and three walks. Easton Porter earned the save for the Panthers with two strikeouts.

Alex Mooney suffered the setback on the mound for Wesson with three strikeouts and three walks in four innings. Preston Middleton took over in the fifth inning in relief and closed out the game with two strikeouts and one walk.

Middleton led the Cobras at the plate with a double and a single. Max Daughdrill provided a triple. Bolon Tadlock contributed a double and had a RBI. Jimmie McQuage and Peyton Selman had a RBI single each. Jeremy Smith hit a single.

On defense for Wesson, Max Daughdrill was busy in centerfield with three outs. Jimmie McQuage and Alex Mooney each put out three runners at first base with assists by Peyton Selman, Cade Rast, Preston Middleton, Will Hulon and Jeremy Smith. Wesson catcher Peyton Selman denied a Morton runner from scoring at home with an assist by Cade Rast.

Wess Goss powered Morton with a double, a single and had a RBI. Jase Grant contributed two singles. Nic Crotwell had a double and a RBI. Jonmarius Russell hit a RBI single. Easton Porter, Coby McCrory and Kyle Porter finished with a single each.

On defense for the Panthers, leftfielder Dylan Grantham stole two good hits from the Cobras and first baseman Coby McCrory had five outs assisted by Grant and Wess Goss.