The Tiftarea Panthers handed the CCA Patriots their first loss of the season in a 4-1 affair Friday afternoon in Douglas.
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the third when Jonathan Rutland scored Tyson Crosby on a single. Thomas Gentry hit a one-out double then Crosby came in to run for Gentry. Crosby advanced to third on a ground out. Then Rutland singed with two outs to put the first run on the board for either team.
The Patriots held on to their slim one-run lead until the fifth inning when the Panthers broke open the game. A CCA error then two consecutive walks loaded the bases with nobody out.
Tiftarea didn’t waste the opportunity.
The Panthers tied the game on a bunt single then took the lead on a sacrifice. A fielder’s choice led to the second out of the inning. A stolen base put runners on second and third with two outs. Then Jackson Parrish delivered the fatal blow for the Panthers, scoring both runners on a two-out single to put Tiftarea ahead 4-1.
The Patriots threatened in the sixth. With one out, Rutland and Hunter Hayes walked. Then both stole bases to get into scoring position. Jackson Knight walked to load the bases with only one out. But the Panthers shuttered the rally by turning a double play.
The Panthers went down 1-2-3 in the seventh. CCA flirted with a comeback in the bottom of the frame but came up short. Landon Williams led off with a single then Gray McLean singled with one out, moving Williams to third. McLean stole second, once again putting a pair of Patriots in scoring position. An infield popup was responsible for the second out of the inning. A fly-out to center ended the game for the Patriots.
McLean had two hits for CCA. Gentry, Rutland, and Williams also recorded hits. Knight walked twice. Gentry took the loss for the Patriots. He threw four innings and surrendered three runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out seven. The Panthers only collected one hit off Gentry. He is 0-1 with a 2.00 ERA on the young season. Bryant finished things out for CCA with three innings of work. He allowed two hits, one earned run, and struck out four.
The Patriots are 2-1 on the season and welcome Frederica Academy to Douglas Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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