Elsah, ILL. — Saturday the Panthers hosted the Spalding Eagles for a double header. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 20 in the nation, while the Panthers are fighting for their first SLIAC playoff appearance in school history. Panther ace,
Alex Stamos, found himself on the bump for game one. With the Spalding bats exploding for 11 runs with four homeruns in the first game of the series, Stamos was looking for a way to stifle the Eagle offense.
In the top of the first, Spalding looked like they would continue their offensive onslaught. The Eagle batter launched the second pitch of the game for a leadoff homerun. A single, double and walk later, the Eagles were threatening to break things open with one out in the first. Stamos settled down and got two pop outs to get out of the early jam. After being shut down in the bottom half of the first, Stamos settled and kept the Eagles off the board.
The Panthers tied things up in the third started by a
Jeff Ross single.
Parker Davidson laid down a beautiful bunt down the third base line that looked like it might roll foul but stopped on the line for a single.
Ed Bargmann drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.
Aleq McMullin had a sacrifice fly to score Ross from third.
The Panthers scored again in the 5
th to take their first lead of the series.
Ed Bargmann started things off with a one-out double. McMullin was hit by the pitch putting runners at first and second. Grennie doubled pushing Bargmann across the plate for a 2-1 lead.
Stamos came back out for the sixth with his pitch count on the rise. He got a quick first out followed by two walks. The next two batters flew out.
Sean Hannan, the Panther's single season saves leader took the mound in the 7
th. The first two runners reached base in the top of the 7
th for the Eagles. A bunt back to the pitcher and a mishandled throw led to the ball making its way to the right field corner allowing the two baserunners to score and the batter advanced to third. The baserunner was nabbed trying to score on a ground ball back to the pitcher. Hannan settled down and picked up two more outs, but the damage had been done. With the score 3-2, the Panthers had their top of their lineup coming up.
Parker Davidson singled and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Bargmann. McMullin scored Davidson with a ground rule double. With two outs and a runner on second,
Jake Kearney hit a ground ball deep in the hole, McMullin advancing on contact was sent home as the ball got away from the shortstop. A strong throw nearly got McMullin as he dove in to the plate to score the winning run.
McMullin was on the mound for game two. The potent Eagle offense plated two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Panthers were held scoreless until the fifth. First basemen,
Will Adler reached on an error, Davidson walked, and Bargmann singled to load the bases. McMullin helped his own cause launching a grand slam taking the lead 4-2. Aleq threw a one-two-three sixth to hold the lead through the sixth. In the 7
th, a tiring McMullin was left in to try and squeeze one more inning out of him. Instead, the Eagles took advantage and were able to knock McMullin from the game bringing Davidson to the mound. Davidson threw two innings before passing it off to Grennie. The Panther offense wasn't able to mount the comeback dropping game two and the series.
Up Next:
The Panthers have the mid-week off and will face MacMurray College for a crucial three game weekend series. Between games on Saturday, the Panthers will honor their five seniors during their final home conference matchup.
