By: Brandon Wise / Staff Writer
The Golden Panthers fought hard but just could not get the bats going enough in a 6-4 loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Although the Golden Panthers scattered seven hits throughout the night, they stranded ten base runners in a number of key situations, dampening R.J. Fondon’s solid performance on the mound as the starter.
“R.J. Fondon threw outstanding tonight,” coach Turtle Thomas said. “That’s probably about as good as he can pitch right there.”
In the first, Ivan Hartle and Kes Carter both singled. Then catcher Jose Behar attempted to make a pick off of Carter at first, but first baseman Rudy Flores dropped the ball, allowing both runners to advance. Logan Robbins then hit an infield single that brought home the first run of the game.
After that, Fondon settled into a groove and would last six innings and pick up five strikeouts with only one walk.
Ryan Huck of Western Kentucky got the juices flowing with a solo home run to lead off the fifth and extend the lead to 2-0 for the Hilltoppers. But Fondon would bounce right back to pick up two of his five strikeouts on the night.
Leading off the sixth inning with a Hartle single, Robbins then singled and allowed Hartle to advance to third. But Fondon then picked off Robbins on first, followed by a ground out to short to end the inning.
When pitcher Jose Velasquez came on in relief of Fondon, he picked up two quick outs with runners on first and second. But a passed ball advanced the runners, which then set up Hartle’s single to bring home the third run of the evening.
After Behar led off the seventh with a single, Patton then hit a shot to right that advanced Behar to third. With two outs, Garrett Wittels then put the Panthers on the scoreboard with a double to center to make the game 3-1.
In the ninth, the Hilltoppers loaded the bases and picked up a run on a Matt Rice sacrifice fly. Carter then ripped a triple to center to bring home two more runs to make it 6-1.
The Panthers made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After a hit by pitch and walk issued by Rye Davis, Patton doubled down the right field line to bring home a run to make it 6-2. Flores then hit a double down the right field line to bring home two more.
However, it was just too little too late, as the Hilltoppers then got Mike Martinez to line out to end the game.
“You got to score some runs to win,” Coach Thomas said. “That’s the bottom line.”
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