The Panthers attempted to regain their winning stance against Big South conference member, Winthrop University at Prairie View, March 19. The series was scheduled for three games, but due to unacceptable weather, the series was shifted to two games instead. After a long day of work, Winthrop’s offensive supremacy reigned throughout both games claiming themselves as the victors. From the two games the Panthers could bring only three runs across the plate, 2-15 and 1-16.
Throwing off the first pitch for the first game was Fernando Almaguer. After five innings of work he was replaced by Jose Mata. The Panthers first run came in the first inning beginning with Benjamin Blackburn getting hit by a pitch. As he finally reached third, Myrio Richard knocked him in on a groundout to second. The Panthers brought in another run in the seventh, but it was too little too late as their bats couldn’t get the game going.
In the second game, Terry Salter got the start, and was pulled after five innings for Robert Ponce. The Panthers connected more at the plate, but could not generate their hits into runs as they dropped another against Winthrop.
During Easter weekend, the Panthers headed to Houston for a three game series against Texas Southern. The Panthers rebounded, as the chip on their shoulder turned into two wins.
The Panther didn’t hesitate as a big fourth inning opened the door to a big conference win. Rashad White brought in two of the three runs in the inning from a homerun to right field, tight defense sealed the win for the Panthers, 7-3.
The next game proved to be a different story as a huge 10-run sixth inning for Texas Southern gave the Tigers the lead, and the game. A Richard homerun wasn’t enough to defeat the Tigers, 11-13.
Late inning heroics was the story for the last game, as the Panthers buckled down to have a monstrous eight-run eighth inning, thus far winning 10-8. Smart baseball got the Panthers moving as they took the last game of the series.
Wrandal Taylor had five innings of work that amounted to six strikeouts, Conrad Limas followed with two strikeouts, and Mark Almaguer closed out the Panthers.
Richard had three RBIs, Stedman Smith had two, Oscar Goldman and George McDonald both had two hits apiece.
The Panthers will hit the road for a near month long trip across Texas and Louisiana. The Panthers next piece of action will be Saturday, March 29, against Southern in Baton Rouge, La. at 1 p.m.