Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Mount Pleasant, IA. – The Panthers wrapped up their weekend road trip in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, as they competed with the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers. The Panthers played great baseball in the first game, but then made too many errors in the latter game. The Panthers split with the Tigers this afternoon, winning 13-4 in game one, and losing 10-7 in game two.
Game 1
Hunter Mehring was the starting pitcher for the Panthers in the opening game. After allowing two runs in the first frame, Mehring settled down and pitched to weak contact most of the game. He pitched a complete game (seven innings), allowed just six hits, four runs, five walks, and struck out three. The Panthers played focused, crisp defense behind Mehring all game long, and they did not commit an error for the second straight game, which was great to see.
Offensively,
Jeff Ross moved up to the leadoff spot in the order. He put a good swing on the first pitch of the game and sent the ball 400+ feet over the center field wall for his first career homer.
Parker Davidson also launched his first career homerun. Davidson's was a grand slam, which broke the game open in the top of the second inning. His homer increased the Panthers lead to 7-2, and the Tigers were never able to catch up.
The Panthers' bats were on fire, as the team collected 13 hits.
Jeff Ross led the way, going 3-4 with a walk, and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
Hunter Mehring was also 3-4 with a walk, including a double and a pair of singles.
Aleq McMullin and
Bryce Murray each had a pair of singles.
Connor Coyne,
Parker Davidson, and
Alex Stamos, all had one hit apiece in the game.
The Panthers continued adding to their lead as the innings progressed, and they took game, 13-4. It was a well-played game, and they came out firing on all cylinders.
Game 2
David McClelland started on the mound for the Panthers in the second game, and
Brett Huntley received the start behind the plate. Both started the first 1.1 innings for the Panthers, before
Parker Tibbetts took over for McClelland and Murray replaced Huntley. Tibbetts entered and recorded an inning ending double play on the first pitch he threw in the second inning. Tibbetts threw 4.2 innings and allowed four runs.
Alex Stamos replaced Tibbetts and tossed the final two innings, allowing one run.
Offensively, the Panthers tallied eight hits.
Connor Coyne,
Parker Davidson, and
Jake Kearney, all had two hits. Coyne had two doubles and Davidson had one as well.
Parker Tibbetts had a double in the game and
Alex Stamos had a single. The Panthers were without one of their top sluggers,
Zach Grennie, this weekend (field trip), but he will be back in the lineup this week.
Unfortunately, the Panthers made four errors in the field, which may have been the difference in the game. They had played flawless defense the past couple of games, but made a few too many mistakes in the field in the final game today. The offense was able to chip away and tack on a few late runs, but it was not enough to earn the victory. The Panthers dropped game two, 10-7, to the Tigers. They return to action this Tuesday, as they travel to Greenville, IL, to take on the Greenville Panthers in a double-header, beginning at 5:00 p.m. central time!
