The Panthers beat the Modesto Pirates 4-2 on Thursday afternoon, scoring all 4 runs in the top of the 6th inning. It was the Panthers 7th straight win and 5th straight Big 8 Conference series win. City will go for the sweep on Saturday at 1pm at the U.
Polo Portela went 5 1/3 innings, striking out 8 Modesto hitters and allowing just 1 run as he improved to 4-1 on the season. Daylon Matthews and Nick Mears pitched in relief to lock down the win for the Panthers. Nick Mears earned his 3rd save of the season.
Offensively, the Panthers were held to just 7 hits, but 4 of them came in the 6th inning when they scored their 4 runs. Anthony Clyma led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line and advanced to 3rd base on Jake Guenther's single to right. Auston Chastain then doubled to right center scoring Anthony Clyma and putting runners at 2nd and 3rd. Dominic Diana then doubled to left center to score Jake Guenther and Auston Chastain. Dominic Diana would advance to 3rd on a groundout and came home to score on a balk by the Pirates pitcher.
Anthony Clyma (2x5), Jake Guenther (2x4), and Auston Chastain (2x4) all had 2 hits for the Panthers. With Dominic Diana (1x4) adding the 7th hit, it was the top 4 in the Panthers lineup providing all the offense they would need to pull out the win.
