The Purdue North Central baseball team split a doubleheader against visiting St. Xavier University Saturday afternoon in Westville. The Panthers dropped the first game 6-2 before rebounding to win the second game 5-4. PNC is 18-24 overall and 9-11 in the CCAC while the Cougars moved to 28-13 and 14-4.
In the first game senior Shane Prance (3-5) took the loss despite going the distance. He gave up 6 runs on 10 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. The odd innings were unkind to the right-hander as he gave up 3 runs in the first inning, 2 in the third and 1 in the fifth.
The Panthers scored 2 runs in the fourth inning to cut it to 5-2 but left 7 men on base. They finished with 8 hits by 8 different players and a walk against two St. Xavier pitchers and saw the Cougars defense commit 2 errors.
Sophomore Colin Willis led the way by reaching twice on a single and walk. Senior Jeff Strbjak had a 2-run double and freshman Ty Taylor also added a double. Senior Nate Hall contributed a single and reached on a hit-by-pitch.
In the second game senior Tony Hoolehan (3-4) earned the complete game victory by allowing 4 runs (2 earned) all in the second inning and nothing else. He struck 1 one batter, the first of the game, and walked 2.
After scoring 1 in the bottom of the first he Panthers rallied from the 4-1 deficit by scoring solo runs in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings.
Senior Jeff Strbjak had the game winning walk-off hit with runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the seventh. The stout designated hitter laced a single down the right field line to score Willis who reached on a double. After St. Xavier intentionally walked junior Ched Gaskin, Strbjak worked his magic.
The Panthers outhit the Cougars 11-6 and committed 1 error while St. Xavier had none.
Willis (3 hits, 2 2B's, 3 runs) and Gaskin (3 hits, 2 RBI, BB) led the way offensively for PNC. Junior Greg Toliver added a run-scoring double and sophomore Kevin Gates contributed a RBI single. Senior Nate Hall (2B, BB), freshman Ty Taylor (1B, BB) and Strbjak (BB in addition to game winning hit) all reached multiple times.
PNC plays again tomorrow when they take on St. Xavier in another doubleheader. The first game will be a nine-inning conference game while the second will be a seven-inning non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
