GREENVILLE, IL – The Panthers Baseball team headed east for a weekend matchup with the Greenville University Panthers. Greenville entered the day 1-5 in conference and the Panthers were 0-6 still looking for their first conference victory.
Micah Cook made the start on the mound for Principia in game one. Greenville took an early lead scoring a single run in the first. They tacked on five more in the second to take a 6-0 lead. Skyler Stock led off the top of the third with a double to left and would advance to second on a wild pitch. Braxton Ramsey picked up an RBI groundout to score the first and only Principia run.
The Panthers would threaten again in the fourth started off by a Ryan D'Amico base hit. Gavin Matchell moved up the runner with a single to right, and Salvador Flores singled to deep left field to load the bases with one out. Greenville would escape the jam on a fly ball to center and a strong relay to the plate to complete the double play. Greenville added three runs in the fourth via the long ball and went on to take game one, 13-1.
Salvador Flores made his third start of the season in game two. Greenville again jumped out to the early lead by picking up three runs on four hits in the first before Flores retired the next three batters to end the threat. Greenville then extended their lead to five by picking up two runs in the second. In the top of the fourth, Kailis Mayo worked a lead off walk, followed by a Matchell walk and a Stock single to load the bases. Josh Bayless, making his first collegiate start at third base, picked up an RBI groundout. With two outs and runners on second and third, Cole Christensen singled to left for two big RBIs to cut the deficit to 5-3.
After Greenville picked up three runs on one hit in the fourth, Ben Perrine hit a lead off home run in the fifth to chip away at the lead. Then Stock plated another run on a groundout to make it 8-5. Logan Cadey entered in the seventh and threw two innings with no walks and three Ks. Greenville added two in the sixth and one in the eighth to take game two, 11-5.
Up Next: The Panthers will head to Adzick Field at Clayton High School to take on Fontbonne University for single games on Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 7:00 PM.
