Panthers fall to wrap up Classic
BENTON – After suffering their first loss of the season in an extra-inning
3-0 shutout to the Sheridan Yellowjackets on Friday in the third game of the Benton Panther Baseball Classic, the Panthers were up over the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats going into the final inning Saturday to wrap up the Classic at Everett Field at Panther Stadium. But, North Little Rock took advantage of Panther miscues to come back for a 5-4 eight-inning victory to put Benton at 2-2 to start the season.
Tied 4-4, the Wildcats scored on a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth to take the eventual victory.
It was scoreless after two frames before North Little Rock scratched a run across in the top of the third with a two-out single and 1-0 lead. The Panthers would respond, though, with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Jack Woolbright doubled and scored on junior Andrew Armstong’s single to left field for the 1-1 tie after three.
The Wildcats would retake the lead in the top of the fourth as two one-out singles and a sacrifice fly made it a 2-1 game before
Benton responded once again. Junior Ethan Perry walked to start the bottom of the fourth, stole second and went to third on senior Caleb Sollars’ one-out single. Perry was plated by junior Jake Jones to tie things once again, 2-2.
The Panthers took a short-lived lead in the bottom of the fifth when Armstrong singled to start, went to second on sophomore Justin Mitchem’s sacrifice bunt and took third on senior Aidan Garrett’s single to right. Armstrong scored on sophomore Brooks Lane’s single to center for the 3-2 advantage before Perry’s RBI ground out made it a 4-2 game.
Despite pitching a scoreless sixth and getting two outs with a runner on first to start the seventh, an error gave the Wildcats life and they took advantage. A hit by pitch, walk and two passed balls let NLR tie it at 4-4 going into the final half inning.
Sollars, Woolbright and Armstrong all had 2-hit games, with Lane and Jones adding a hit and RBI apiece.
Garrett also added a hit and run in the loss.
Perry started and pitched well giving up two runs on four hits and one walk, striking out four in six innings.
In their 3-0 shutout loss to Sheridan on Friday, the Panthers couldn’t solve Yellowjacket starting pitcher Evan Ward or relief pitcher Fletcher Williams, who combined to give up just three hits and three walks (all on
Ward), striking out 10 in eight innings pitched.
Scoreless after seven innings, Sheridan scored three in the top of the eighth to claim victory.
Garrett started for the Panthers and pitched four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out four, with Sollars striking out four and walking two in two scoreless and hitless innings.
Senior Garrett Brown suffered the loss in the eighth after pitching a scoreless seventh.
Garrett, junior Dawson Turner and junior Seth Chrestman had a hit apiece for the Panthers.
Benton has a busy upcoming week, playing every day beginning with a 4 p.m. date with Little Rock Christian Monday in a tournament in Sheridan.