DAVENPORT, FL – Despite uncharacteristically cold temperatures in central Florida on Tuesday, the Principia baseball team had their best day of the young season at the RussMatt Invitational. After earning their first win of the season 9-2 over St. Joseph's University (NY) in the first game of their doubleheader, the Panthers doubled their win total in game two with a 7-6 comeback victory over Fredonia State University (NY).
Game 1 – Principia 9, St. Joseph's 2
The Panthers rode a five-run fifth inning and a strong start from
Logan Cadey to end their season-opening losing streak. Principia collected 12 hits while Cadey logged six innings of one-run ball to get a well-earned victory.
Principia jumped ahead quickly, scoring twice in the opening frame. With two outs and the bases loaded,
Dean Wood delivered a two-run single to center, scoring
Braxton Ramsey and
Kailis Mayo. After the Bears plated a run in the second to cut the score to 2-1, Cadey stranded the tying run at third to preserve the Panther lead. Cadey held St. Joseph's scoreless over his next four frames, striking out six and working around three errors behind him. He exited after six innings with a 7-1 lead.
Principia broke the game open with five runs in the top of the fifth thanks to a couple key swings off the bat. After
Kailis Mayo hit a two-run double to center early in the inning,
Cole Christensen stepped up with the bases loaded and two out and smacked a clutch, three-run triple to left. Ramsey set up another run in the sixth by stealing his second bag of the game before scoring on
Josh Bayless's RBI groundout. In the seventh,
Gage Vanlandingham doubled home
Drake Stilwell for the ninth Principia run.
Charlie Reiss worked the final three innings, allowing only one unearned run and striking out four to secure the Panthers' win.
Game 2 – Principia 7, Fredonia 6
Principia completed a two-win day with a big comeback thanks to a persistent offensive push and four shutout innings in relief from
Cole Christensen. The Panthers fell behind early as Fredonia built a 6-1 lead, but the Panthers chipped away and outscored the Blue Devils 6-0 over the final six frames. Principia collected 11 hits, including multi-hit games from five players.
After Fredonia scored once in the top of the third, Principia answered in the bottom half as
Gage Vanlandingham singled and later came around on an RBI groundout by
Luis Gil. The Blue Devils then strung together five runs in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a pair of walks, a hit-by-pitch, and an infield error.
The Panthers punched right back and posted three runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff double by
Gavin Litchauer, he,
Justice Fortson, and
Dawson Short all scored on a sequence of passed balls and a wild pitch. Principia then completed the comeback with a three-run fifth. After
Josh Dement singled and moved to third on a bunt single by Fortson, Dement scored when Fortson stole second and forced an errant throw. Litchauer followed with a single, and
Kailis Mayo capped the rally with a two-out RBI single to score Litchauer for a 7-6 lead.
After Principia reclaimed the lead,
Cole Christensen took over on the mound and delivered four scoreless innings to earn the win, striking out four and allowing no hits while working around six walks.
Ben Sanders recorded the final two outs for his first save, stranding the tying run in scoring position in the ninth.
Doubleheader by the Numbers
- Principia Hit Leaders:
- Principia RBI Leaders:
- Principia K Leaders: (16 strikeouts)
- Principia Innings Pitched:
Next Up
The Panthers head back home to Elsah and will host MUW for a three-game conference series this coming weekend. The team will play two on Friday starting at 3:00 PM, followed by a single game on Saturday at noon.
