ORANGEBURG, SC (March 10, 2023) – The Claflin Panthers (0-15, 0-10 PBC) had several innings of solid play, but the team ran into some late game struggles in a 19-2 loss to the Augusta (Ga.) Jaguars (8-10, 4-6 PBC), Saturday afternoon. After keeping the Jaguars within eight runs in the fifth inning, the Panthers allowed 10 runs in the final two innings of play to take the tough loss.
The Panthers had some bright spots in the tough loss. As a team, the Panthers totaled seven hits, including a double from senior right fielder Rufus Hurdle, Jr. and junior left fielder Kobe Miller. Senior catcher Deshawnte Carraway led the way for the Panthers, going one-for-three at the plate with a run scored. Senior second base Da’Avion Sumpter added a one-for-three performance with a run batted in (RBI).
Claflin first got onto the scoreboard early. Sumpter hit an RBI sacrifice fly that scored the team’s first run. The team answered again in the sixth inning when sophomore short stop Joshua Cooper added another RBI sacrifice fly that scored Carraway.
Panthers senior Kyle Hawkins (0-5) got the starting nod and he threw 4.0 innings for the Panthers. He finished the game with two strikeouts.
With the loss, the Panthers fall to 0-15 overall and 0-10 in Peach Belt Conference play. The two teams would go on to complete the doubleheader later in the day. For more information on Panthers baseball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2 | 7 | 1 |
W: Mason Bernard (3-1) L: Hawkins, K