CAU (2-1) defeats Rust College (1-2) 4-3 to win their season series 2-1.
Updated: Mar 13, 2021
The Bearcats blew out the Panthers 17-8 on Jan. 31 to take a 1-0 lead on the season series. The Panthers sought retribution in game two at home at Bill Evans Field.
CAU's #12 Ryan Bevel scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
Photo taken by Derrian Carter.
After a blowout 17-8 loss to open the 2020 season against the Rust College Bearcats, the CAU Panthers bounced back in a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Bearcats at Bill Evans Field.
In the first three innings, it was a defensive contest. Both teams played excellent defense and committed no errors. Rust College was almost in a position to score in the first inning as a player hit a triple, but CAU’s pitching ended the Bearcats hopes of scoring.
“The pitching was better than yesterday, and the guys seemed a lot more focused,” Craig Burns said. His assertion was correct as CAU’s pitchers, Lorenzo Peterson and D'Artrey Brinson, played well. Peterson only allowed one score this game, while Brinson allowed two scores this game.
However, in the bottom of the third inning, the game switched gears into a clash of offense. CAU drew first blood when they scored a run by Bevel in the third inning, but Rust countered with their own score in the fifth inning. Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, CAU scored twice after Khalil Manuel tripled in two runs from Bevel and Calvin Butler. Manuel went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.
Yet, Rust scored two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh to tie the ball game. But, the Panthers kept their cool and did not let Rust’s comeback deter them. In the bottom of the seventh, Bevel singled and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Next, he moved to third due to a walk. Then on a 2-1 count, he scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch. Bevel finished the game with two hits, drove in two runs and scored three times.
CAU closed their third meeting of their three game series with Rust College by defeating the Bearcats 4-1 in only four innings. CAU (2-1) will be back in action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as they will participate in the Peachtree City Classic. They will challenge Fairmont State University on Feb. 7, Kentucky State University on Feb. 8 and Stillman College on Feb. 9.
This story has been originally published in Clark Atlanta University's student newspaper - the Panther. For inquiries, email James McJunkins: jamesolaf@comcast.net