Coming into the fifth inning, West Lowndes held a slim 5-4 lead over Columbus and got some much-needed help in the fourth.
The Falcons had loaded the bases with no outs, looking to strike, but starting pitcher Cameron Ellis held them to just one run, stranding the bases loaded to hold on to that one-run lead.
West Lowndes needed insurance runs and fast, and the Panthers barely had to take the bat off their shoulders in the fifth inning as a walk parade began, leading to three straight bases-loaded walks.
The floodgates flew wide open as the Panthers scored 12 runs in the final two innings of play, defeating Columbus, 17-6, in six innings.
“The guys just kept their composure,” West Lowndes head coach Jermaine Liggins said. “They played well, dug deep within themselves, stayed within themselves and started executing the small things.
“Everything just came together for us.”
Liggins, in his first year with the Panthers (1-2), got a celebratory Gatorade bath from the team after his first win as a coach and the first win of the season for the team.
Behind consistent pitching from Ellis, West Lowndes was able to get the job done on defense, but it was the offense that broke through and sealed the deal late.
However, Columbus’ bats, despite getting routine contact, were held in check by the senior left-hander on the mound.
“I just kept my head straight,” Ellis said. “My arm started hurting a little bit, but the team needed me so I kept going, kept throwing strikes.”
Being able to attack the strike zone and not only pitch to contact but generate swings and misses was what propelled the Panthers.
Ellis also used his speed at the plate to help himself out in the win, hitting an inside-the-park homer off a liner down the right field line. Columbus’s right fielder was shaded over to right-center, creating a big gap Ellis took advantage of rounding the bases.
It was one of nine hits in the win for West Lowndes as the Panthers used 13 walks and a number of hit-by-pitches to do damage at the plate.
Control on the mound is an area of concern for the Falcons (0-3) moving forward, something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
“We lost control of our pitching and allowed more baserunners as those runners ended up scoring,” Columbus head coach Christian Farmer said. “To correct our pitching mistakes, what I like to do is to motivate and uplift my guys so that they’re supported on the field, allowing my infielders to come in and boost my pitchers so they can throw better.
“I just try to do anything I can to encourage my guys.”
Take those final two innings aside and Columbus kept things competitive and then some, answering West Lowndes with multi-run innings to tie things up.
Monday’s game was very much up for grabs, but once pitching fell by the wayside, the Panthers snatched permanent hold of the lead.
Columbus and West Lowndes face off once more in their next game at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
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