BATESVILLE, AR – The Principia baseball team traveled down to Arkansas on Thursday to start SLIAC play taking on the Lyon College Scots. Lyon used sustained offensive pressure and timely pitching to complete a three-game series sweep over the Panthers.
Game 1 – Lyon 7, Principia 1
Lyon set the tone in the opener with early power and steady pitching, pulling away for a 7-1 win.
The Scots scored one in the first and broke the game open in the second with a three run home run giving Lyon a 4–0 advantage. Principia answered in the third inning when Dean Wood doubled to left to score Braxton Ramsey, accounting for the Panthers' lone run.
Josh Bayless led Principia with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while Wood, Ramsey, Cooper Martinez, and Gage Vanlandingham also recorded hits. On the mound, Koye Calzada worked five innings in his start, allowing four runs, while Logan Cadey pitched the final three frames in relief.
Game 2 – Lyon 12, Principia 9
Principia jumped out to an early lead and matched Lyon run for run through the middle innings, but a decisive seventh inning swung the game in Lyon's favor.
The Panthers scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Braxton Ramsey and an RBI double by Skyler Stock. Principia added another run in the sixth and pushed across five runs in the ninth, but Lyon's lead proved too much to overcome.
Gage Vanlandingham went 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, and an RBI, while Drake Stilwell delivered a key three-RBI double late. Cooper Martinez, Skyler Stock, and Luis Gil also drove in runs. Lyon broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning, capitalizing on walks, hit batters, and capped by a two run home run. The Panthers tallied 10 hits to outhit the Scots but Principia's rally fell short.
Game 3 – Lyon 18, Principia 8
Lyon closed the series with an offensive outburst, scoring in six of seven innings to secure an 18-8 victory in the finale.
Principia stayed competitive early, scoring four runs over the first three innings, including a two-run double by Drake Stilwell and RBI groundouts from Skyler Stock and Josh Bayless. The Panthers later added runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
Dean Wood and Gage Vanlandingham each collected two hits, while Johnny Garcia went 2-for-4. Stilwell finished with two hits and two RBI, and Bayless, Kailis Mayo, and Braxton Ramsey each drove in runs. Lyon responded with an eight-run third inning and never looked back.
Series by the Numbers
- Principia Hit Leaders:
- Principia RBI Leaders:
- Principia K Leaders: (14 strikeouts)
- Principia Innings Pitched:
Next Up
Principia is slated to return to action next week hosting Illinois College in a non-conference matchup before leaving for Florida for spring break. The Panthers will look to continue their offensive momentum shown in the final two games of the series.
