CARLINVILLE, IL - The Panthers' Baseball team entered this weekend's series on the hunt for their first conference win as they took on the Blackburn Beavers. The first game of the series on Friday evening was played at Principia due to Blackburn's field still recovering from a rainy week.
The Panthers went quietly in the top of the first as the Beaver defense quickly rebounded from an error to induce an inning-ending double play. After a couple strong outings in a row, the Panthers gave the nod to Jack Adler on the mound in game one. With two outs and two runners on, the Beavers started their scoring with a three-run homerun. The Blackburn bats stayed hot in the second as they picked up seven runs in the inning – only four of them earned as a Panther defensive miscue prolonged the inning. Gavin Brustman entered to pitch in the bottom of the third for the Panthers and held the Beavers to one run on two hits. In the fifth, singles by Ryan D'Amico and Chris Strong gave Principia a chance to get on the board, but Blackburn's starter buckled down and collected three quick outs to end the threat. Jeremy Ramirez-Garcia made his debut on the mound in the bottom of the fifth and threw an inning and two thirds of scoreless baseball. In the seventh, Chris Strong doubled off the center field wall to drive in two runs. The Panthers would go on to score three more runs in the inning, the final one driven in by Tim Eissler. In the end, Principia dropped game one of the series by a score of 22-5.
Games two and three of the series switched over to Blackburn's home park in Carlinville on Saturday afternoon. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Panthers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Jack Adler lifted his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall in the top of the first. The Beavers responded with two of their own in the bottom of the first off starter Chris Strong. The Panthers would chip away at the Beaver lead in the third as Ryan D'Amico ripped a bases loaded double to left center scoring three. Ramirez-Garcia, after a strong outing the day before, was called on for another inning and two thirds of work. Tim Eissler also made a relief appearance on the mound in the sixth. Eissler would strand the runners he inherited picking up three quick outs. The Panthers were unable to get anything going in the seventh and dropped game two of the series 19-4.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Principia loaded the bases in the first, but they would only score one run on a passed ball as they were unable to capitalize and score more. Salvador Flores started the final game for the Panthers and picked up two quick outs to start the game. After a walk and a hit by pitch, a two out single gave the Beavers a 2-1 lead. Adler singled to start the third and then scored on a Eissler double. The Panthers would crack the scoreboard again in the fifth as Casey Golbiw doubled to deep left center to score Strong. Alejandro Zozaya was called on to pitch during the fifth and picked up two strikeouts and a groundout to strand the two runners he inherited. In the seventh, after Flores led off with a double, Brustman drew a one out walk and Golbiw singled to load the bases. Owen Murphy then picked up an RBI walk, and Brustman would score on a wild pitch. The Beavers would seal the sweep with two strikeouts to end the game with a 15-6 win.
Up Next: The Panthers will look to rebound next Saturday April 30th as they host the Spalding Golden Eagles for a doubleheader starting at noon.
