By Hayden Ashby
This past weekend, the Pellissippi State Panthers baseball team played a well-matched, 3-game series against the Chattanooga State Tigers, losing the first two games on Friday but ultimately securing a hard fought win in their last game on Saturday.
Both games played on Friday ended in defeat: 6-8 in the first and a painful 1-7 in the second. Despite the tough losses, the team kept their heads up and maintained a positive mindset going into Game 3 the following day. In an interview after Game 2, Panthers’ first-baseman Jacob Dillon (#17) said, “Things didn’t go our way, but that happens. It’s baseball.”
The Panthers’ pitching coach Grif Hughes stated in a later interview, “The good thing about baseball is you get another [chance] tomorrow to come and try again…I trust they’re going to bounce back and try again tomorrow.”
And they did just that.
In the last game of the series, the Chattanooga Tigers had an early lead of two runs in the first inning, and it was starting to look like a repeat of their previous matchups. Just as the stadium’s morale began to weaken, a big home run in the second inning from Knoxville native Caden Channell (#24) ignited the Panthers offense, initiating the Panthers towards a leading score of 4-2 at the bottom of the third inning. The Panthers continued to fight, going run for run with the Tigers until they ultimately pulled out on top and secured a 14-13 win for Pellissippi State.
Other notable highlights include TJ Gobble’s (#21) home run in the fourth inning, causing two RBIs (Runs Batted In), Zach Weider’s (#7) three RBIs, and Parker Peeler’s (#1) three SACs (sacrifices, or, intentionally getting out to advance other runners on the field).
As a first-year program, the Panthers baseball team has a solid 21-14 record and is looking forward to the rest of their season. Their next home games will be April 4 and 5 against Jackson State Community College at Ridley-Helton Field. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a great season of baseball!!
