Panthers Start Conference with a Loss against MPC

The Hartnell Baseball team hosted Monterey Peninsula College as both teams opened up their Coast Conference action on Tuesday March 3rd at Tony Teresa Diamond. The Panthers showed some life in the 8th and 9th innings scoring four runs but falling to the Lobos 7-4. MPC took the lead early pushing their lead to 5-0 before the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th. Nikko Crivello pinch hit single to lead off the inning. Diego Fisher followed with a single. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Chris Wright's infield single scored Crivello advanced Fisher to 3rd base. Carlos Drain reached on an error, allowing Fisher to score. Michael Vivo doubled down the left line advancing Drain to 3rd base. Isaiah Bueno hit a Sac-Fly to center field that scored Drain bringing the score to 5-3. MPC then pushed two more runs in the 9th extending their lead to 7-3. In the bottom of the 9th the Panthers didnt go down easy. Ruben Gomez singled to start the inning. Diego Fisher added to his day with a double, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd base with 1-out. Chris Wright's Sac-Fly scored Gomez. Offensively Fisher went 3 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. Chris Wright went 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

The Coast Conference-South series continues on Thursday March 5th as the Panthers (6-10, 0-1) travel to MPC for a 2 p.m. start time.