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Box Score 3 LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Principia Panthers voyaged to Louisville, KY, to take on the Spalding Golden Eagles this past weekend. Spalding entered the series with an impressive 20-11 record and were in sole possession of the first place seed in the East Division of the SLIAC.
Principia entered the series trying to beat Spalding for the first time since taking a game from them back in the 2012 season. The Panthers played great baseball the first game of the series on Friday night and were able to win in dramatic fashion, 2-1. However, they faltered in Friday's nightcap and then again on Saturday, losing the final two games, 10-0 in each game.
Game 1The Panthers faced arguably their toughest test of the year in the first game of the series as they faced off against division-leading Spalding University. The Golden Eagles threw their ace, Ryan Mosby, in the first game. Mosby has been one of the conference's most dominant hurlers and was in the SLIACs top five in most all pitching statistical categories entering Friday's game. Entering Friday's game Mosby was a perfect 5-0 on the year and boasted a stellar 2.20 ERA. To add to the hype, it was also Senior Night for Spalding and Mosby was their one and only senior. The Panthers spoiled Mosby's special night as they handed him his first defeat of the year, winning 2-1.
The Panthers started with a bang in the first inning as
Ed Bargmann got things started with a leadoff infield single to third base.
Parker Davidson followed with a great at-bat in which he was able to draw a walk.
Gavin Thomas then flied out to right field, enabling Bargmann to advance to third base with just one out.
Hunter Mehring got his job done as he proceeded to hit the ball hard on the ground which resulted in an RBI fielder's choice in which Davidson was thrown out at second base.
The Golden Eagle Nine answered right back in the bottom half of the first inning as they knotted the game back up at one apiece.
Gavin Thomas was on the mound for the Panthers in this crucial opening game for the Panthers. Spalding's Austin Drake leaned over the plate and was hit by a pitch to get things started for the Golden Eagles in the home half of the first inning. Thomas then got Jacob Woodruff to line out to centerfield to record the first out of the inning. Drake swiped second base before Cam Bruner, the Golden Eagles three-hole hitter, connected for an RBI single on a hard hit ground ball up the middle. Bruner was soon thereafter gunned out at second base on an attempted steal. Brad Speek followed Bruner's single with a single of his own on a weak ground ball that found its way through the right side of the infield. Thomas bared down and got Blake Patterson to fly out in foul territory to
Dallen Russell to escape the first inning.
The Panthers tacked on one more run in the second inning on an RBI single by
Logan McDowell. McDowell's line dive single scored
Christian Thomas who had doubled to right field before McDowell came to the plate. However, Mosby made pitches and was able to evade further damage the rest of the inning, and game for that matter.
On the flip side,
Gavin Thomas was brilliant after the first inning. He did not allow any runs after the first inning. In fact he only surrendered on base hit to the Golden Eagles after the first inning. Thomas labored through seven innings where he was constantly making big pitches to escape threatening innings. He walked five and hit three batters along the way, though he only gave up three hits. He threw a complete game, going seven innings and striking out two batters.
Logan McDowell played great defense behind the dish as he hosed three runners out on stolen base attempts.
Dallen Russell ended the game by making a fantastic, full-extension diving stop at first base as he dove with outstretched arms toward the hole between first and second base to stop a ball that was scorched on the ground. He bounced right back up and tagged first base to end the ballgame. Russell's phenomenal play prevented the game-tying run from scoring and the Panthers celebrated their victory moments after Russell stepped on the bag to clinch game one.
Other notable performances from the first game include
Parker Davidson making the usual great plays in left field and reaching base safely in his three plate appearances, including a pair of base hits and a walk. The Panthers also played great defense collectively as a team throughout the game. Everyone chipped in and made bigtime plays down the stretch. It was by far the Panthers best performance of the year and was a great, hard-fought, total team victory.
Game 2The second game was played after Spalding honored their lone senior, Ryan Mosby. Spalding fought back with a vengeance in this game and shutout the Panthers. They got their bats going early and were able to put the game out of reach by the fifth inning when they scored four runs, extending their lead to make it an 8-0 ballgame. They ended up tacking two more runs on in the sixth inning and won in nine innings by a tally of 10-0.
Parker Davidson and
Connor Coyne were the only Panthers to collect hits in the second game, as both beat out infield singles. Spalding's Josh Exton threw a brilliant game as he lasted seven innings and allowed just two hits while striking out nine.
Dallen Russell was the starting pitcher for the Panthers in the second game. He went four innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three.
Parker Tibbetts pitched a scoreless sixth eighth inning for the Panthers and retired the Golden Eagles in order while doing so. He struck out two in just one inning of work.
The Golden Eagles stole the show in the second game as they were firing on all cylinders. They scored early and often and were able to shut down the Panthers offense.
Game 3The rubber game of the series was eerily similar to the second game as Spalding again defeated the Panthers, 10-0.
Gavin Thomas,
Aleq McMullin, and
Logan McDowell were the only Panthers to record a hit in the deciding game of the series. Spalding received another tremendous effort on the mound, as Kyle Olliges dealt a complete game, going seven flawless innings. He struck out nine batters while allowing just three hits to the Panthers.
Sawyer Grow started the game on the bump for the Panthers. Grow lasted four innings and allowed six earned runs. The Panthers competed well at times in the second and third games respectively but appeared to be outmatched by the Golden Eagles depth and consistent play. To give credit where credit is due, Spalding is an elite ball club and they are a very well-coached, disciplined, and hard-nosed team.
At the end of the weekend, the Panthers were able to come away with a win against the division's best team. Spalding still remains in sole possession of first place in the division. Principia currently sits in fourth in the East division.
Principia will next square off against the Westminster Blue Jays in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 27, at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at home. The Panthers will look to compete with the Blue Jays in order to take momentum into their final week of the 2015 season.
