Baseball Nipped by Rockford

Published: April 13, 2021

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The baseball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Rockford in the sixth game of its annual spring trip to Florida. Rockford came up with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.

Dylan Bone was the tough-luck loser for the Panthers as he pitched eight innings and was charged with both runs. He struck out three and surrendered eight hits.

Greenville scored a first inning run when Mitchell Cernek singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout by Tim Osborne, and scored on an RBI double by Hunter Bryan.

Rockford posted a single tally in the bottom of the fifth.

Pitcher Nick Bifano entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and nearly escaped a bases loaded jam before Rockford's game-winning single.

Cernek had three hits on the day for Greenville and stole two bases.

The Panthers (2-6) conclude their spring trip Saturday when they take on Eastern Connecticut State at 10 a.m. in Winter Haven, Fla.