Louisville, KY.-- Principia College traveled to Louisville Kentucky to take on the Spalding Golden Eagles. With rain in the forecast, two games were played on Friday to help ensure as much baseball could be played this weekend as possible. The Panthers got on the board first picking up two runs in the top of the first. The first three batters reached on walks to load the bases with no outs. In a full count, Sean Hannan grounded out to second to score the first run. Liam Foster lifted a sac fly to right to score the second run. Chris Stamos would draw a walk. Chris Stamos and Zach Grennie would steal second and third respectively before Jack Adler drew another walk. Spalding had seen enough and went to their bullpen early who struck the next batter out looking on a close pitch in a full count. The Panthers picked up two runs on no hits in the first. Aleq McMullin started game one for the Panthers and Spalding picked up three runs in the first as the Panthers struggled defensively. A couple errors allowed the Golden Eagles to jump into the lead. The Panthers would quiet the Eagle bats until the fourth where a homerun helped the Eagles jump out to a 8-2 lead. Nathan Wood replaced McMullin on the mound and threw two innings in relief only allowing one run. The Panthers however found themselves hitless entering the top of the 7th. With one out, Ryan Eisenauer smoked a double to right field that just made it by the outstretched glove of the right fielder to break up the combined no hitter.
The rain kept coming in game two and picked up time to time. Alex Stamos was on the bump in game two. After a leadoff single, Stamos settled down picking up two quick outs before surrendering a single run. The Golden Eagles would get on the board again in the third with two solo homeruns. Jack Adler would double and score Liam Foster in the top of the fourth to put the Panthers on the board. Spalding would gain it right back in the home half of the fourth to make the lead 5-1. Good base running in the fifth by the Panthers would pick up another run. Stephen Strong singled to center and would advance to second on a ground out. He then took third on a ball in the dirt that catcher blocked but just rolled out of his reach. He then scored on a passed ball cutting the lead to three. With two outs in the 6th, Spalding stole second advanced to third on the wild throw and trotted home without a play. Stamos would go on to throw the complete game giving other Panther arms the rest needed and a chance to compete on Saturday. L
The rain continued into Saturday and the game was moved to an all turf field at a local high school. Stephen Strong came out strong giving the Panthers a tremendous effort on the mound. Spalding cracked the scoreboard first in the second. A single and ground rule double put runners at second and third. A sac fly scored one and after single to put runners at second and third, the Panthers caught the runner at first in a pickle but were unable to execute as the runner at third broke for the plate. Instead, the run scored and the Panthers were unable to get an out. Strong got two fly outs to end the inning but the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In the top of the third, Zach Grennie cut the lead in half with a solo shot to left center. The Panthers picked up two run on five walks and a single in the fourth to take a three two lead. Strong had a one, two, three fourth. Spalding tied things up in the bottom of the fifth. A walk and ground out moved the runner to second and a single brought the tying run home. Things remained tied up until the seventh. A leadoff walk and stolen base allowed the Golden Eagles to threaten early. A fly ball to right was ruled a dropped ball leaving runners at first and third with no outs. Strong kept his composure and worked to limit the damage. A sac fly scored the go-ahead run. Strong served up two more outs and stranded the runner at second to keep things within reach for the Panthers. Chris Stamos drew a walk to lead off the eighth but two strikeouts left him stranded at second. Hannan came in to pitch the 8th and surrendered one run on one hit. Down 5-3 the Panthers had the heart of their lineup coming up but were unable to mount a comeback.
The Panthers are scheduled to play a double header at Blackburn College on Monday with games starting at 1 and 3:30pm.
