Panthers can’t hold on vs. Cabot
CABOT – Going out of conference and out of Benton to face the Cabot Panthers Thursday, the Benton Panthers led 4-0 after the first two innings. Benton could not hold on as Cabot scored four runs in the third to tie it and scored the eventual game-winner in the fifth for a 5-4 win over the Panthers.
Benton got to work early in this one as senior Aidan Garrett doubled to start the game and went to third on a wild pitch with one out. Senior Caleb Sollars followed with an RBI double to center for the 1-0 lead. Junior Andrew Armstrong singled to send courtesy runner Jake Green to third, and junior Austin Phillips picked up a sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead after one.
The Panthers (10-9) weren’t finished as sopho-BRYANT
more Brooks Lane took a one-out walk in the second inning, sophomore Jack Woolbright doubled and Garrett walked to load the bases with one out. Junior Ethan Perry knocked in
Lane with a single to left and Woolbright scored on an error for the 4-0 advantage after two.
But, Cabot fought back. Two singles started the third and a one-out walk from Benton starter Sollars loaded the bases. Sollars would strike out the next man for the second out, but Zach Hardcastle doubled in two, with Kolby Webb singling in two more to tie it 4-4 a batter later.
It remained a tie game until the bottom of the fifth when Cabot runners reached via walk and single before a sac bunt moved
them up a bag. Hardcastle came through again, this time hitting a sac fly to right field to give Cabot a 5-4 lead after five.
The Panthers went in order in the sixth before Perry was hit by a pitch to start the seventh. A strikeout, fly out and ground out followed to end Benton’s chances.
Sollars got the no-decision giving up four runs on four hits and four walks, striking five in three innings. Garrett
took the loss giving up a run on one hit and two walks, striking out two in three innings.
Perry, Sollars and Phillips all had a hit and RBI apiece, with Garrett, Armstorng and Woolbright adding a hit.
Benton played Robinson on Friday and are back in 5A Central Conference action Tuesday playing Maumelle on the road.