After eight innings of play, the teams seem fairly evenly matched. So much so, that a winner couldn’t be determined Tuesday.

The Panthers tied the game on a passed ball with two strikes and two outs in the top of the seventh inning, then escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout in the bottom of the eighth inning before the game was suspended due to darkness with the score tied 6-6.

The outcome will be determined today in Gowanda before the teams play the regularly scheduled second game of their series.

“Going extra innings, I’m going to have to throw somebody for this first game that I was not expecting,” Falconer head coach Fred Carder said. “Having to use one more, I’ll have to work around some things. It’ll be interesting.”

Falconer second baseman Chase Bianco fields a groundball during Tuesday’s Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 baseball game at Denny Meszaros Field. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

Gowanda took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning after Tristin Luther walked and Nicholas Smuda was hit by a pitch. After Colton Gernatt laid down a sacrifice bunt, Kyan Austin hit an RBI double and Aiden Geiger hit a two-run single.

“He didn’t throw the ball bad at all,” Carder said of starting pitcher Gavin Curtis, who allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out five in three innings. “He was on a pitch count. At the lower end of the lineup, he allowed some baserunners.”

Falconer answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame after Isaiah Washington and Chase Bianco singled to open the inning. After Erik Stenstrom walked to load the bases, Logan Johnson drove in a run with an infield single and another run scored on Colton Rhinehart’s RBI fielder’s choice when the throw home was bobbled, allowing Bianco to score.

“Last outing, it was a challenge for Seth because he didn’t look great last week when he pitched,” Gowanda head coach Tim Smith said of starting pitcher Seth Geiger, who allowed just two earned runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings while striking out four. “We have guys who have been around. (Seth) really stepped up and he deserved better.”

The Golden Falcons took a 6-4 lead in their next at-bat after back-to-back errors and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Stenstrom. A passed ball allowed Nicolas Russell to score ahead of Stenstrom’s two-run triple to right-center field.

“I have high hopes for the kid. He works so hard and the results show,” Carder said of Stenstrom. “For him to come up with that big hit is rewarding for him.”

Despite totaling just four hits in the game, the Panthers did not go away. In the fifth, Austin and Aiden Geiger walked with no outs. After an infield popout, Drew Kota hit a groundball that forced out Austin at third base, but Falconer’s throw across the infield looking for a double play at first base was errant, allowing Geiger to score on the play.

“There is a lot of frustration, but I’ve been around these guys long enough and I’ve seen them have success with the bat. I know it’s in there,” Smith said. “It’ll come around, it’s just a matter of when.”

The Panthers made it 6-5 in the top of the sixth inning when Luther walked with two outs and doubled on Smuda’s double to left field off reliever Colton Rhinehart, who allowed two runs on a hit and four walks while striking out five.

“It’s outstanding to be able to rely on him to come in in big games,” Carder said of Rhinehart. “That’s something he’s going to see throughout the year. I have all kinds of confidence in him as a freshman.”

Stenstrom entered on the mound to open the top of the seventh inning and was greeted by Austin’s infield single. After a strikeout, Austin stole second and then went to third on Carter Capozzi’s flyout to right field. Then, with an 0-2 count on the next batter, a pitch got away from Falconer’s catcher and Austin raced home with the tying run.

“It’s baseball. You are hoping for three up and three down in the top of the seventh,” Carder said. “It’s heartbreaking because it’s a big game early in the season. This was just a clash. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Noah Lauer retired the Golden Falcons in order in the bottom of the seventh to finish a scoreless 3 2/3 innings that were nearly perfect other than a walk.

“He’s a pitch-to-contact kind of guy. People go up there thinking they are going to swing for the fences,” Smith said. “In many cases, they pop it up, they strike out, they foul it off, they pound things into the ground. An offspeed pitcher who can hit spots is exactly who he is.”

Jayden Fish drew a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth for Gowanda, but was thrown out at second on an attempted sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Smuda walked to put runners at first and second, but another unsuccessful bunt ended the inning.

Luther relieved for the Panthers and struck out the first two batters he faced before a hit batter, a walk and an intentional walk loaded the bases. But the sophomore got out of the inning with another strikeout before the game was paused due to darkness just before 8 p.m.

“He’s quiet and he’s got a lot of guts,” Smith said of Luther. “He’s not fazed by any situation. No matter who he is facing … he’s going to go out there and give you everything he’s got. He gave us a chance to move on to (today).”