The Birmingham-Southern College baseball team began play in the Division III College World Series on Friday as the school closed after 168 years of existence. That the Panthers are continuing their season under such unusual circumstances has made them a national curiosity heading into Friday’s matchup against Salve Regina at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio.
Unfortunately, No. 7 seed Birmingham-Southern suffered a setback on its way to a storybook finish, losing its first game of the double-elimination tournament to the No. 2 Seahawks, 7-5.
Salve Regina catcher Brady Smolinski hit a three-run home run in the third inning to open the scoring. The Seahawks added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Matt D’Amato, an RBI groundout by shortstop Michael Breen in the fourth and a two-run homer by first baseman Tyler Cannoe in the fifth to build the lead. 7-0.
Right-hander Drake LaRoche (son of major leaguer Adam LaRoche of 12 years) allowed Birmingham-Southern’s seven runs and seven hits in five innings.
BSC finally got on the board in the sixth inning with an RBI single by right fielder Charlie Banks to make the score 7-1. And in the seventh, the Panthers mounted a three-run comeback against reliever Jason Arrigo on RBI hits from center fielder Eli Steadman, second baseman Andrew Dutton and designated hitter Ian Hancock.
In the eighth, BSC loaded the bases with a single and two walks. But Salve Regina closer Kyle Carroza got Dutton to ground out to second base to end the threat.
The Panthers had one last chance in the ninth, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate after a walk by Jackson Webster and a single by Hancock. However, Carroza again avoided allowing runs by striking out Banks, Jakob Zito and Ty Truett to close out the victory.
Brayden Clark earned the win for the Seahawks, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings. Carroza scored the save.
The Panthers’ season isn’t over yet and perhaps losing the opener to Salve Regina will add more drama to the overall story. But if BSC loses again on Saturday to the loser of Friday night’s matchup between Wisconsin-Whitewater and Randolph-Macon, the team will be eliminated.