SERIES PREVIEW: CHIPOLA TAKES ON #5 PENSACOLA

MARIANNA, Fla. – After earning a two-game split with Northwest Florida to kick off Panhandle Conference play at the end of last week, Chipola baseball (18-8; 1-1 PC) will start a two-game set with the #5 Pensacola State Pirates on Monday night in Marianna. The two teams will play the second game in Pensacola on Wednesday at 5 PM.

Last time out

The Indians were in danger of being swept in their opening series after losing to the #16 Raiders, 5-1, in the first game last Thursday night then falling behind 7-0 after five innings on Friday.

Chipola scored four in the top of the sixth, a single run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, then three in the ninth to come all the way back to defeat #16 Norhwest Florida and take the second game. Sam Parker and Knox Bennett had two hits and a RBI in the game to lead Chipola at the plate. Cam Freeman picked up his first win of the season after coming on for the last out in the 8th in relief of Brantley Willis.

After Chipola fought back in the top of the sixth to pull within three, a walk to the Raiders' lead off hitter in the bottom half, brought Willis to the mound who was able to retire the next three NWF batters. Chipola scored in each of the next two innings to pull within one heading to the bottom of the 8th. Willis retired the five consecutive batters in the seventh and eighth innings, but with two outs and 0-2 count, the Raiders' Jacquae Stewart hit a home run to push Northwest Florida out front by two.

An error extended the inning and chased Willis from the mound. Cam Freeman replaced Willis and, after allowing a walk to the first hitter he faced, got a strikeout to take it to the ninth.

A lead off walk to Jordan Taylor followed by a double from J.C. Vanek and a single by Willis, put runners on the corners with no outs for the Indians, down by a run. Elgin Bennett pinch ran for Willis and stole second to put both runners in scoring position. After a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Miguel Hugas hit a groundball to short stop for the second out but scored Vanek to tie the game and moved Bennett to third. Raiders had a chance to go to the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, but a Zander Buchan ground ball was thrown wide at first, allowing Bennett to score the go-ahead run for a 9-8 advantage.

Austin Brown came on in the 9th and quickly got a ground ball out and a pop out but an error and a walk gave the Raiders the tying and winning runs on base. Brown struck out the Raiders' Colby Jones, who was 2-5 coming into the at-bat, on four pitches to earn his first save of the season. Jones was also the losing pitcher after giving up three runs in the ninth without retiring a batter.

In the first game with the Raiders, Chipola managed just three hits against NWF's starter, Mack Estrada who improved his record to 4-0 on the season. Estrada struck out ten and reliever Brock Tapper struck out four in the Raiders' 5-1 victory.

J.C. Vanek was the only multi-hit player in the lineup for the Indians with a pair of singles. Despite striking out nine in five innings, Lucas Elissalt picked up his first loss of the season to fall to 4-1 on the year. 

Pirates sweep TCC

#5 Pensacola got a complete game from starter Josiah Glodfelter to take a 9-1 victory in their conference opener. Glodfelter improved his record to 7-0 on the season.

At the plate, Blaydon Plain was 2-4 with a pair of home runs and 4 RBIs. Jackson Hiatt also had a home run and 4 RBIs and finished the day 2-4.

Pensacola completed the sweep with a 12-8 win in Tallahassee on Friday. After TCC tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, Pensacola erupted for four runs in the ninth to take an early 2-0 lead in the Panhandle Conference standings.

Know your opponent

Through 24 games this season, #5 Pensacola State is batting .355 and pitchers have an ERA of 3.49.

Outfielder John Smith leads the Pirates at the plate hitting .433. He is tied with Carter McCulley for first on the team in home runs with eight.

Infielder Blaydon Plain is hitting .368 in 76 at bats. Plain also 18 walks on the season contributing to his team-leading on-base percentage of .495.

First baseman Jackson Hiatt leads the team in RBIs with 33. Hiatt also has seven home runs while also batting .310 at the plate.

Leading the pitching staff for the Pirates is right hander Matteo Pare (4-0) who comes in with a ERA of 1.96 in 23 innings pitched. Pare has struck out 24 while only walking four batters.

Righty Tucker Jackson, in 15 innings pitched, has an ERA of 2.40. Jackson has also struck out 21. Leads the team in saves with four while also compiling a record of 1-0 on the mound.

Quinn Spalding comes in with a record of 1-1 in 13 innings pitched. Spalding has struck out nine and walked six this season.