This time last year, the Gorman baseball team was licking its wounds from a pair of thorough drubbings at the hands of Ira in the Region I-1A quarterfinals.

What a difference a year makes.

After splitting a pair of games with the Bulldogs on Thursday at McMurry University, winning Game 1 by a 3-2 margin before falling 13-1 in Game 2, the Panthers dominated the rubber match Saturday at Abilene Christian High School, scoring an 11-1 run-rule win to earn a regional semifinals date with May next week.

The series victory — considered an upset by many — avenged last year’s sweep, which had been on the minds of the Gorman players and coaches ever since.