The Panthers traveled to Paragould, AR to take on the Crowley's Ridge College Pioneer in a four game series. The Panthers were down early as the Pioneers scored four in the first on a two out grand slam. The Pioneers extended their lead in the fourth as some sloppy defense allowed two unearned runs to score.
Spencer Cobb threw the sixth and after two walks and a hit by pitch, he settled in and got a 643 double play to keep things from spiraling out of control.
Ryan Eisenauer led the Panthers offence with two hits, one of which ended the no hitter bid in the top of the 5
th. The Panthers stuck out 10 times in game one.
The Panthers scored their first run of the series in the first inning of game two taking advantage of two two out walks and a wild pitch. The Pioneers quickly took back the lead on a two run homerun in the bottom of the 1
st. They tallied 13 runs on 14 hits. The Panthers had five different players with one hit a piece. One bright spot for the Panthers was a lead off pinch hit single by freshman Mike Brokensha. The single was hit first career hit.
The Panthers looked to turn things around day two of the series.
Nathan Wood made his first start on the mound this season and turned in a complete game performance. He held the Pioneers to five hits and just three earned runs. Unfortunately the Panther offense struggled to find its rhythm. Freshman Mikey Coyne led the Panthers with two hits. Strikeouts continued to plague the Panthers as they were sat down nine times in the first game of the day.
The Pioneers took control of game four early and never looked back. Strikeouts continued to plague the Panthers as they struck out twelve times.
Jack Adler tallied two hits as the Panthers had 5 hit in the game.
Jack Adler, Mikey Coyne, and
Will Adler all had an RBI as the Panthers plated three runs in the last two innings.
Chris Strong threw one scoreless inning of relief in the bottom of the sixth to keep things within reach.
Up Next:
The Panthers will open conference play this next weekend against Spalding University in a three game series.
