Baseball Earns first Conference Victory in Win Against Indian River

Baseball earns their first conference victory over Southern Conference rival Indian River State College.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Panthers put up 6 runs in the bottom half of the second. With the bases loaded, Armani Davis grounded out to first to score the first run of the game for PBSC. Runners would advance to second and third on the play. Next batter, Gabriel Cruz, singled on a ground ball through the left side of the infield, scoring Sal Grinstead and Thomas Diaz.  Jarret Bickel popped up to center field, which dropped in front of the center fielder and past the outstretched gloves of right fielder and second baseman, but Cruz was caught in between and was thrown out advancing to 2nd. After a Brannon Mondragon single, Tristan Moore ripped a pitch to Center Field and scored the Panthers' first inside-the-park Home Run on the season. 

Moving to the top of the seventh, Starting Pitcher Trace Moore found himself in a bit of a jam. With the bases loaded and only one out, Moore induced a weak groundout to Tristan Moore, which allowed the runner to score from third. With the score now 6-4, a double on the second pitch of the at bat tied the game at 6-6 -- Trace Moore's day was done. Tyler Montoya came on in relief and was able to get a ground ball on his second pitch of the afternoon, but Jarret Bickel could not field the ball cleanly and Indian River went back on top 7-6.

With the infield drawn in and the runner, Jarret Bickel, at third with only one out, Bickel was able to score on a groundball hit to the 2nd baseman who fired home, but the throw was not on point. With two runners on, Thomas Diaz had perhaps the game's biggest hit as he smashed a double into the right field corner, scoring Tristan Moore and Justin Tew. 

The Panthers would add an insurance run in the 8th via a bases loaded walk.

Tyler Montoya shut the door over the final two frames to earn the victory. His record improves to 3-0.

Stat Leaders: 

• Jarret Bickel - 3-5, 2 runs scored
• Brannon Mondragon - 2 runs scored
• Tristan Moore - HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored
• Thomas Diaz - 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI
• Trace Moore - 6.2 IP, 6 K
• Tyler Montoya - 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K