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Panthers storm back to stun Demons
Mt. Pleasant baseball team erases 7-run lead in Game 2 of sweep
MT. PLEASANT — Game 2 of a Southeast Conference doubleheader seemed all wrapped up for the Washington baseball team.
The Demons were leading by seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, needing just three outs to earn revenge for a 4-1 Panther win in Game 1.
Instead, Mt. Pleasant stormed back in the dead of the night, forcing extra innings with a seven-run seventh before walking off in the eighth, for a 13-12 victory.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Panther speedster Payson Coleman came up to bat with his younger brother, Cooper Coleman on second base.
Payson Coleman bunted the ball down the first base line, and forced an awkward throw attempt by Washington relief pitcher Caleb Zieglowsky. The throw down the line caused a collision between Coleman and Demon first baseman Kael Williams, which sent both players to the ground.
“I tried pushing one in between the pitcher and first base to try and give myself a chance to use my speed,” Coleman said. “I got there, I see an arm, and the next thing I know, I'm laying on the ground.”
Both players were shaken up on the play, and the ball tickled into the outfield, allowing Cooper Coleman to score from second and give the Panthers a one-run win.
The Demons had plenty of chances to go up even larger than seven runs. In the sixth, Washington had the bases loaded with nobody out, but couldn’t capitalize.
“It came down to throwing strikes late in the game, but we also had a chance to put them away in the fifth and the sixth,” said Washington head coach T.J. Rausch. “We left a lot of guys on base.”
A patient Panther lineup loaded the bases on walks and hit by pitches, and slowly but surely crawled back into the game. A diving catch by Demon short stop Luke Beenblossom and a deep sacrifice fly by Mt. Pleasant’s Ben Newton gave Washington a pair of outs, but by that time, it was already down to 12-10.
Zach Newton came up for Mt. Pleasant with two on and two outs. He sent a two-run double to center field, tying the game up and completing the comeback.
“Zach has had a great year so far,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Brent Broeker. He's hitting fastballs when they're there. Earlier in the game, he made himself look bad at the plate, but he made up for it there at the end.“
Zieglowsky, who had come in and slowed the bleeding while the inning was getting out of hand, was able to strike out Payton Hagans to end the inning, but a quick 1-2-3 inning for the Panther defense put Mt. Pleasant on the brink of a walk-off win.
In Game 1, Ben Newton threw a gem for the Panthers, giving up just one earned runs and six hits, while striking out four batters in seven innings.
Mt. Pleasant’s J.C. Sitar went 3-for-3 with a double in Game 1. Zach Newton was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Washington’s Beenblossom gave up just four earned runs over six innings, while striking out six. The lone Washington RBI went to Luke Schiebel, who went 1-for-2.
Sitar was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Game 2 for the Panthers. Zach Newton went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Payson Coleman was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Caden Greiner was 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead Washington in Game 2. Beenblossom went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Hagans threw just eight pitches in relief, but picked up the win for the Panthers. Zach Newton started the game, and both Sitar and Payton Walker saw time on the mound.
Conner Leyden started the game for Washington on the mound. He gave up three earned runs over four innings.
Mt. Pleasant (4-2, 2-0) will play at Washington (1-4, 0-2), for a one-gamer on Thursday night.
