On Friday night, the #3 ranked Panthers played host to the #14 Folsom Lake Falcons in the CCCAA Nor-Cal Regional I Best-of-Three Playoff Series at the U. Sophomore LHP, Travis Magness (1st Team All-Big 8 Conference SP), took the ball for the City and pitched 7 strong innings allowing just 2 runs, while striking out a season-high 11 batters.
The problem was on the other side, Falcons sophomore Will Felton was pitching a gem of his own. He had a perfect game going through 6 1/3 innings, when he hit Auston Chastain with a 2-2 breaking ball. After his 9th strikeout of the game and the 2nd out in the 7th inning, Kyle Blakeman (1st Team All-Big 8 Conference OF) would break up the no-hitter with a triple down the right field line past the outstretched glove of FLC's right fielder, Tyler Kaim. Chastain scored on the play, but it was the lone run for the Panthers in the series opener. Folsom Lake would score an insurance run in the 9th and held on for the 3-1 win. Felton improved to 6-2 on the season, while Magness (5-1) suffered his 1st loss.
City started to rally in the bottom of the 9th with one out, as Anthony Clyma and Auston Chastain both singled up the middle to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Folsom Lake then went to their bullpen to bring in their closer, Zach Reid to get the final two outs and notch his 6th save of the season. Tyson Solis and Shaq Robinson both singled in the 8th inning to account for the last two of the Panthers' 5 hits in the game.
Folsom was led offensively by Tyler Kaim's (2x4 with a HR), Mason Allen (2x4 with a 2B), and Nicola Mislinski (2x3 with a double).
Sac City will host Folsom Lake on Saturday at 2pm for game two of the series. The Panthers will need to win to force a decisive 3rd game of the series, which will be played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two. The winner of this series will advance to next weekend's Super Regional Best-of-Three Playoff Series.
