FAIRBANKS — The two-hit, shutout effort the Alaska Goldpanners saw Tuesday night from Anchorage Bucs pitcher Aaron Griffin was a familiar sight to Evan Simonitsch.

Simonitsch and Griffin are teammates at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Coincidentally, Simonitsch was one of two Goldpanners to get hits against the right-hander, who sparked the Bucs to a 6-0 win in the first game of an Alaska Baseball League doubleheader at Growden Memorial Park.

The doubleheader had the theme of excellent pitching because the Goldpanners gained a split with an 8-0 win in the second game.

The twinbill was the last home games of the regular season for the Goldpanners, who were celebrating Host Family Appreciation Night. A ceremony was conducted between the games.

The split kept the Panners in first place (29-11 ABL).

In the first game of the doubleheader, Simonitsch registered the Goldpanners’ first hit in the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff double that hopped under the glove of Bucs first baseman Chris Serritella and into right field.

Simonitsch was facing a 1-2 count when he connected on a slider from his college teammate.

“I was trying to battle and I ended up getting lucky with it down the line,” the Panners centerfielder said.

Shortstop DJ Crumlich accounted for the Panners’ other with a single past diving Bucs third baseman Tony Piazza.

Griffin worked six innings, striking out five and walking two. He retired the side in order in the second and fourth.

“He’s always around his zone,” Simonitsch said, “and that’s the type of pitcher I feel is difficult because he’s always pounding strikes, and you’re pretty much getting yourself out most of the time.”

Justin Hopper shut down the side in order, with one strikeout, to earn the save in the bottom of the seventh.

Jake Dzuibczynski (2-3) took the loss for the Panners. The left-hander allowed three runs, five hits, two walks, hit a batter and stuck out one

during six innings. He also retired the side in the second.

Brian Nelson took over in the top of the seventh and was roughed up for three runs, including one from a double by Coley Crank.

The Bucs, who generated seven hits, took a 2-0 lead on Serritella’s two-RBI double in the third. Eddie Rohan stretched the lead to

3-0 with a one-out, first-pitch home run over the left field wall.

Rohan had grounded out and flew out in the top of the second and third, respectively.

“On the pop-up, I got a little loopy in swing,” said Rohan, “and on the home run, I went straight two-arm.”

In the second game, Chase McDowell pitched a complete game for the Goldpanners, scattering three hits while striking out four.

Martin Medina supported him with a

3-for-3 night with four RBI, highlighted by a three-run homer in the first. He also doubled a run in the third. Austin Woolridge led off the Panners’ fourth with a solo homer.

Contact staff writer Danny Martin at 459-7586.