Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Elsah, ILL. - The Panthers hosted the Webster Gorloks tonight. The Gorloks entered as the top team in the SLIAC West division and were ranked #26 in the nation in the latest d3 poll. The Panthers sat just a half game out of the second playoff spot in the SLIAC East division prior to today's matchup. The Panthers dropped both games this evening, 9-2 and then 3-2.
Game 1
Will Adler started on the mound for the Panthers. Adler blanked the Gorloks in the first two innings before the Gorloks scored two in the third. The Gorloks then erupted for six runs in the following frame which seemed to put the game out of reach for the Panthers.
Nathan Wood relieved Adler and threw 2.1 innings. Wood delivered his best performance of the year, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out three. Another bright spot out of the bullpen was
Jeff Ross, who made his second collegiate appearance on the mound tonight. After allowing a leadoff single in the final inning, Ross retired the next three Gorloks in order.
The Panthers posted five hits in game one.
Ed Bargmann,
Zach Grennie,
Hunter Mehring,
Sean Hannan and
Stephen Strong contributed with base hits. Hannan and Ross each drove in a run. Despite scoring a couple of runs late in the game, the Panthers fell in the opener, 9-2.
Game 2
Jake Kearney started on the hill in the latter game and turned in a masterpiece. Kearney turned in his best pitching outing of the year, tossing seven innings, scattering four hits and two runs while striking out four.
Parker Tibbetts entered in the eighth and threw the final two innings, allowing three hits and one run and striking out one.
The Panthers struggled to make contact at the plate for most of the game as they struck out 19 times. However they displayed resilience and grit all night. Down 3-0 in the eighth inning, Bargmann led off with a line drive single up the middle.
Connor Coyne then blasted a two run homer, cutting the deficit to one.
Zach Grennie followed by drawing a walk, forcing the Gorloks to turn to their bullpen.
Hunter Mehring bunted Grennie into scoring position one batter later, but the Panthers were unable to drive the tying run in as the next two batters were retired.
After Tibbetts threw a scoreless ninth to keep the deficit at one for Principia, the Panthers were looking to score in the final half inning. After
Bryce Murray lined out to deep left field,
Ryan Eisenauer came to the plate. Eisenauer faced a 2-2 count, but had a great two strike approach and took the ball to the opposite field, lining a single to right field, giving the Panthers hope.
Parker Davidson entered as a pinch runner, but to no avail, as the next two Panthers were retired and Davidson, who represented the tying run, was stranded at first base.
The Panthers proved that they can hang with anyone in the league tonight. Aside from the one inning in game one where the Gorloks scored six runs, the Panthers played great baseball, especially on the pitching / defensive side of the ball. The two losses tonight drop the Panthers to 16-12 and 7-7 in the SLIAC. They return to action in a pivotal series against the Greenville Panthers this weekend. As of now the games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Greenville and then at Principia at 1:00 and 3:00 Saturday.
