ELSAH, IL – As spring break comes to a close, the Principia Baseball team welcomed the Maranatha Baptist University Sabercats to Cheatham Stadium. The two teams were originally scheduled to play a three game series with the doubleheader on Saturday, but the doubleheader was moved to Friday due to Saturday's unfavorable weather forecast. Last season, Principia got their only two wins of the season against the Sabercats. They hoped to replicate their success this season as they came in still looking for their first victory.
Micah Cook received the nod to start game one for Principia. The Sabercats struck right away with a one out single followed by a triple. Cook then settled in and struck out two to end the threat. Both teams' pitchers induced ground balls and received quality defense.
The Panthers were down 1-0 going into the bottom of the fifth when Casey Golbiw and Alejandro Zozaya both singled, followed by a Hunter LeBlanc walk loaded the bases. With one out, Ben Perrine tripled to center to clear the bases and take the lead. Ryan D'Amico then singled in Perrine to stretch the lead to 4-1.
The Sabercats fought back and added a run in the top of the sixth, but the Panthers were locked in going for their first win and scored ten runs in the bottom of the sixth. Cook shut the door in the top of the seventh to earn the complete game victory with eight strikeouts. Ryan D'Amico led the Panthers with three hits, while Perrine and Salvador Flores each had three RBIs.
Game two featured Flores on the mound, and he started fast with a quick 1-2-3 first. The Panthers picked up were they left off and scored early taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. D'Amico singled in the first run, followed by Tim Eissler tallying an RBI on a ground ball to short. Kailis Mayo then stepped in and blasted a three-run home run to center for his first collegiate long ball.
The Panthers then exploded for ten runs in the bottom of the third. Mayo stayed hot and started things off with a double to right. After the Panthers batted through the order, Mayo came back up and cashed in with an RBI single to center for his fourth RBI of the game. He would finish the game a triple shy of the cycle. Flores went the distance on the mound and picked up the win with seven strikeouts.
D'Amico paced Principia with six combined hits in both games, while Golbiw, Mayo, and Zozaya each had four hits a piece on the day. In just twelve combined innings, the Panthers scored 30 runs on 26 hits as they took home two big, early season Ws!
Up Next: Saturday's single game was canceled due to weather, so the Panthers next game will come at Earlham College on Tuesday, March 28th.
