Baseball Dominates South Florida for First Victory

Baseball opened their season with conference rival Indian River on Friday, falling by a score of 2-6.

The Panthers trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning. Sophomore transfer Sal Grinstead led off the inning with a double. With Dakota Gaillard up to bat, Grinstead stole third. Gaillard flied out to right and Grinstead tagged up to tie the game at 2-2. Moving to the top of the 8th, Indian River loaded the bases as the first three batters reached base. A RBI single, RBI fielder's choice put two runs on the board for the Pioneers. An error on a ground ball hit to the shortstop allowed two more runners to score, increasing the Indian River lead 6-2. 

The Panthers managed to get two men on base in the 9th in an attempted comeback, but on an 0-2 pitch Tristan Moore was caught looking for the strikeout. Sal Grinstead was the leader for the team on offense, he finished the day a perfect 3-3.

On Saturday, Palm Beach traveled to Auburndale, FL to take on South Florida State College and Seminole State College.

In game number one, the Panthers dominated South Florida for a 4-0 victory. Sophomore Pitcher Trace Moore tossed 5 innings of shutout baseball, scattering three hits, and striking out eight. Tyler Montoya relieved Moore and completed the shutout by tossing two shutout innings of his own, striking out five of the seven batters he faced. Wilfredo Maldonado and Sal Grinstead provided the offense, each knocking in one run, and leading the club with two hits.

In game two, the Panthers squared off against a strong Seminole State team.

PBSC fell behind 4-1 but came roaring back in the 3rd inning. The first three batters singled, loading the bases for Brannon Mondragon. Mondragon promptly doubled -- the Panthers now trailed by one. A Billy Poure RBI groundout tied the game at four. Next batter, Albert Espinosa, drew a crucial walk with the bases still loaded, putting the Panthers on top 5-4.

The score stayed the same until the sixth inning. After a hit and a walk to start the inning, Pitcher Seth Lovell allowed a single throught he right side of the infield scoring the runner from second. Two batters later, a walk would load the bases. At this point, JD Johnstone came on in relief of Lovell. On the first pitch he threw, the batter squared up for a double. PBSC now trailed 5-8. 

In the 9th, the Panthers once again threatened. The first three batters of the inning reached base. Brannon Mondragon scored on a a wild pitch and Wilfredo Maldonado was out on a sacrifice fly to right field to put the game within reach at 7-8. Tristan Moore was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for a second time in the inning. Justin Tew, the seventh man to come to the plate in the inning, battled, but struck out with the bases loaded to end the game.

Baseball travels back to Lake Worth on Wednesday to take on St. Thomas at home. The Panthers will look to even their record at 2-2.