Panthers Bumped From SLIAC Championships; Mitchell & Lawson Named All-Tournament

Published: April 13, 2021

HIGHLAND, Ill. Friday nights semifinal round of the 12 SLIAC Tournament wasnt kind to the Panthers, as the Black & Orange saw their season come to a halt - dealt by a 6-3 loss to Webster and a 4-3 heartbreaking defeat to Fontbonne at Glik Park.

After the weekday capper, Saturday offered some positive news for the Panthers as both sophomore Tyler Mitchell and junior Cole Lawson were named to the 2012 SLIAC All-Tournament team. Mitchell, a middle-inning reliever, showed his stuff in the opening round 12-9 defeat of Fontbonne in which he delivered 5 1/3 innings of four-hit baseball. The Panthers right fielder Lawson performed masterfully for GC in the lead-off spot, collecting six hits in 12 at bats during tournament play.

In the opener Greenville College battled tough, keeping the contest scoreless through the top of the fifth inning. Gville ace and SLIAC first team selection David Massengill hurled a gem in his five frames of work. The senior allowed only six hits and two runs with three strikeouts registered. Massengil also helped his cause at the dish, batting 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Webster hung two on the board in the bottom of the fifth but the Panthers answered in the sixth with an RBI fly-out produced by shortstop Jared Massengill that scored Cole Lawson, and then by way of a clutch RBI double that was driven in by SLIAC first teamer Kenny Trager. However the surge was short lived and the Gorlocks would add three in the seventh and another run in the eighth to outdistance the hopeful Panthers by a final of 6-3.

Greenville closer Scotty Voyles was charged the loss in the bout, pitching three full with four earned on five hits. Greenville would be supplied a 30 minute intermission before squaring off with foe Fontbonne in the all-deciding semifinal elimination showcase.

Exacting their revenge, finale action was concluded with a 4-3 defeat by Fontbonne. Greenville displayed an impressive overall team performance, but could not manufacture a hit in the ninth with the tying run aboard. Fontbonne moved to the championship and was crushed 14-3 by WU.

In all the Gorloks of Webster (31-12), swept through the winner's bracket of the four-team tournament to take home their sixth title overall and receive an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.