Elsah, IL-- The Panthers finished their three game series today against MacMurray College. Game one found the Panthers on top early. Parker Davidson led off the game with a single and stole second base to inch closer to the single season stolen base record. With Davidson on second, Ed Bargmann singled to take the 1-0 lead.
Alex Stamos took the ball for the Panthers and threw one of his career bests. He gave up a single in the second but the runner was erased on a ground ball double play. He faced the minimum through three. He gave up another single in the fourth but retired the heart of the MacMurray lineup in order. His only blemish came in the fifth when he allowed one run. He then settled down and retired the side in the sixth and seventh.
The Panther offense scored their second run in the third when Will Adler led off with a single and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Davidson moved him up to third and Bargmann picked up his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to right.
With the win in game one, the Panthers tied the school record for wins at 20. The game flew by finishing in one hour and eight minutes.
The five seniors were recognized and brought down on the field with their families in between games. Game two's starter for the Panthers was senior Jake Kearney. Kearney used fellow senior, Parker Davidson in the first inning getting three fly balls to left. The Panthers were retired in order in the bottom of the first. Jake Kearney kept the Highlanders off the scoreboard in the second with a nice play by Stephen Strong throwing out a base runner at the plate. In inning two, the Panthers were retired in order. Jake kept rolling and got through the third.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the third. Stephen Strong led off the inning with a single which prompted a visit to the umpire from the opposing coach. The Panthers had inadvertently batted an extra batter in the second. The umpires talked briefly and both coaches plead their case which resulted in a 45 minute delay in the game as the umpires left to check the rule book. When they returned they talked with both coaches and concluded that the DH was replaced by the inadvertent batter and Strong's hit was allowed. The decision was protested by both teams and MacMurray's head coach was ejected from the game. After a quick warmup, Eisenauer doubled with one out and Strong scored as the ball was misplayed in left. The Panthers led 1-0 until the seventh when MacMurray's batter homered to tie things up. Three more hits scored another run as MacMurray took the lead 2-1.
The Panthers do what they have done best all year and rallied in the 9th. Senior Jeff Ross worked the count full and walked. Seniors Parker Davidson and Ed Bargmann both singled to load the bases. Senior Jake Kearney singled to tie things up at two. With one out and Sean Hannan at the plate, a check swing dribbler down the first base line was just enough to score Davidson to sweep the series.
The Panthers 21st win set a new school record for wins breaking 20 wins set back in 2011 when current Athletic Director, Pete Paciorek was at the helm of the program. The Panthers aren't finished yet.
Up Next:
The Panthers face Lincoln Christian in a non-conference match-up at home for their final home game. The Panthers will then be headed to Fulton, MO on Thursday to face the Westminster Blue Jays for a double header in their final conference series.
