Panther Boys of Spring Drop the Ball with Three Losses

Author: Jacob Heller

After reeling off six consecutive victories, the Middlebury baseball team dropped three straight last weekend. These losses leave its record at 11-7-1 with two weeks remaining in the season. The first loss came against a Skidmore team that Middlebury should have defeated. Skidmore had only won five games coming into the contest and early on it seemed likely the Panthers would pick up their seventh consecutive victory.
Richard Hightower '04 led the way, ripping a two-run double in the first inning, which ended with Middlebury up 4-0. Unfortunately for Middlebury, the Skidmore pitching staff would buckle down and not allow the Panthers to manufacture another run for the rest of the game. After its early troubles, Skidmore slowly closed the gap, scoring two runs off starter David Riester '05. Alex Casnocha '06 surrendered three runs in relief picking up the tough loss for the Middlebury team. Despite having 10 hits to Skidmore's six, the Panthers were unable to string their hits together and ended up with a tough loss.
Middlebury went on the road Sunday, to Hartford, Conn. Its two-game series against perennial NESCAC power Trinity College would prove to be a reality check for the Panthers in their attempt to make the NESCAC playoffs. Starter Russ Budnick '05 pitched five innings and allowed five earned runs in game one of the series. Middlebury was unable to drive in runners against the Trinity pitchers and the Panthers lost the game 6-2. A bright spot for Middlebury was Jason Hanna '03 who crushed a two-run homerun in the sixth inning and finished the game two for three. In the second game against Trinity, Middlebury received solid performances from Co-captains John Prescott '04 and Denny Smith '03. Both players finished the game two for four with two runs batted in. Middlebury briefly held a 2-1 lead but Trinity would not be denied at home and the Bantams cruised to a 9-4 victory. Three of Middlebury's young pitchers saw action in the second game against Trinity and the Bantams were able to take advantage. Middlebury starter Tyler Bak '06 allowed five earned runs and fell to 2-1 on the season.
This weekend Middlebury will travel to Amherst with a shot at the playoffs on the line. Middlebury only needs to win one of three games to assure themselves a spot in the playoffs. If Middlebury takes two of three from Amherst then Middlebury will host a playoff game next week.