Game One

 

The Panthers received a solid performance on the mound by senior Sawyer Grow in the first game. Grow threw six innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while fanning eight batters. The Panthers turned it over to Will Adler in the seventh and he did his job, allowing only one unearned run. Parker Tibbetts entered in the eighth inning with a runner on first and no one out and was able to induce two outs before the Pioneers scored a run on another costly error. The Panthers struggled defensively in this ballgame which was the difference in the game.

 

Offensively Ed Bargmann continued to reach base safely as he picked up three hits in five at-bats. Bryce Murray was the only other Panther to record a multi-hit game as he collected two base hits.

 

The Panthers trailed 4-3 entering the home half of the seventh inning. Hunter Mehring led off by smoking a ball to left field. Unfortunately he hit the ball right at the Pioneers' left fielder for out number one. Zach Grennie then stepped up to the plate and smashed a double over the center fielder's head. Sean Hannan came in to pinch run for Grennie. Hannan advanced to third on a wild pitch so the Panthers had a runner on third with one out. After the Pioneers recorded a timely strikeout for out number two, Jeff Ross came to the plate. Ross roped a one hopper to the shortstop who was unable to make the play. Ross reached first safely while Hannan crossed the plate to score the tying run. The Pioneers escaped without any further damage and the game went into extras. As mentioned previously, the Pioneers scored one unearned run in the eighth to take a 5-4 advantage.


In the home half of the eighth inning, Bryce Murray hit a bullet down the left field line past the outstretched arm of the third basemen. Murray then advanced to third on a passed ball. The Panthers appeared to be in great shape as they now had the tying run 90 feet away with only one out. As a result, the Pioneers brought their infield in. The Panthers were unable to score the tying run as the next two batters grounded out. It was a tough one-run loss for the Panthers, but it proved how important defense and maintaining poise and composure are to finding success.

 

Game 2

 

The Panthers bounced back in game two behind a great outing by Jake Kearney. This was Kearney's second start of the year on the mound and he was great. Kearney dealt five innings, surrendering four hits and just one earned run while striking out a pair. Nathan Wood entered in the sixth in his first appearance of the year. Wood was spectacular as he pitched a perfect sixth frame before turning the game over to Parker Tibbetts in the final inning. Tibbetts let the first two Pioneers aboard before recording three consecutive outs to end the game in exciting fashion.

 

The Panthers were led by freshmen Sean Hannan and Stephen Strong offensively; they each picked up two hits, including a double for Strong. Bargmann extended his hit streak to six games in the win. The Panthers tallied eight hits as a team. The game was knotted up at two runs apiece entering the bottom of the sixth inning when Bryce Murray scored Sean Hannan on a groundout to the shortstop. The Panthers took the 3-2 lead into the top of the seventh and Tibbetts closed the game out for the Panthers, securing the W and improving Principia's record to 4-2 on the year. The Panthers showed great resilience as they came back to win the fourth and final game of the series especially after losing game three by one run.


As noted previously, the Panthers return to action this Tuesday against Lincoln Christian University at Cheatham Stadium. The first pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.