Baseball Sweeps Weekend Double-Header

Baseball wins both games of the double-header against Field of Dreams Academy on Saturday February 13.

The bats remained red-hot after previously blistering Polk State College for 17 runs on Friday.

In game one, The Panthers got off to a bit of a slow start, allowing six runs in the first two innings. Palm Beach was undone by three errors by members of the infield. After failing to score in the game's first two innings, the Panther bats started to get going in the 3rd. After the first two batters of the inning failed to reach base, Billy Poure struck some life into the club with a much needed triple into the gap in left-center. Next batter, Brannon Modragon, promptly singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Poure. Next batter, Tristan Moore, drove a ball deep to right field that appeared the fielder could make a play on, but the ball carried out of the ballpark for Moore's first collegiate home run.

Field of Dreams Academy came right back in the top of the 4th, scoring two runs with two outs due to another untimely error. However, the Panther bats took over the game and said, "we'll take it from here". After the first three batters of the 4th inning reached base, Justin Tew and Dakota Gaillard drew back-to-back walks, getting back the two runs the Panthers gave up in the top half of the inning. The inning was capped off with a line drive grand slam by Albert Espinosa on the eigth pitch he saw during the at bat.

Dakota Gaillard hit Palm Beach's third home run on the day leading off the fifth. The home run was Gaillard's first as a Panther.

PBSC would go on to win 14-9.

The second game on the afternoon was not nearly as close. After entering the bottom of the third in a 1-1 tie, Tristan Moore drilled another homer, this time a 2-run shot, putting the team up 3-1. Three batters later, Thomas Diaz swatted another 2-run home run, increasing the Panthers' lead to four.

In the bottom of the fourth, Palm Beach poured on eight runs. Brannon Mondragon hit his second home run on the season, the team's third 2-run home run on the day. Sal Grinstead tripled home a run only two batters after Mondragon's blast. Jaden Hennel cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double in the 5th, putting the game well out of reach.

Hennel led the club with 5 RBI on the day. Tew and Poure each had 3 hits.

On the pitching side, the Panthers pitching staff combined to allow six hits and one run over the game's seven innings. The team struck out an impressive thirteen batters against only one walk.