Jags subdue Panthers, 3-1

Approximately 16 hours after closing out an almost six hour double header on Thursday, the Northridge Jags were back on the diamond, hosting the Smiths Station Panthers on Friday. The Jags were only able to put three runs on the board, but the pitching of Burns Brumfield and Milo Obradovich combined with some solid defense to hold the Panthers at bay and resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Jags.

Smiths Station was unable to score through three innings, but the Jags were able to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Mayson Elam led off the bottom of the third with a single to center and stole second three pitches later. After a Jags’ out, Elam stole third and scored after the Panthers third baseman was unable to corral the throw down on the attempt to catch Elam.

The runs column was stationary until the top of the fifth inning, when a Smiths Station runner came around to score after a Jags error, a stolen base and a hit to center. After the Jags were unable to get anything going, the score was tied 1-1 at the end of five.

After holding the Panthers off the board in the top of the sixth, Northridge added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Jack Sanderson was up first and drew a walk, on a 10 pitch at-bat. Thomas Woolf sacrificed Sanderson to second. Aiden Avery came in to run for Sanderson and came around to score the go-ahead run on a double to left by Evan Malone. Anthony Messina drew a walk and Alex Warren singled to center. Malone was held up at third, loading the bases for the Jags. After Sawyer Thompson came in to run for Warren, Evan Malone crossed the plate with the Jags final run, after a wild pitch from the Panthers. Two fly ball outs ended the inning for the Jags, who held a 3-1 lead.

Northridge held Smiths Station off the board in the top of the seventh inning and secured the 3-1 win.

Malone led the way at the plate, collecting two of the Jags’ five hits. Elam, Woolf and Warren tallied one hit each. Elam, Avery and Malone scored individual runs. Elam had two stolen bases for the game.

Brumfield went six full innings on the mound and notched the win, striking out four, walking three and giving up only three hits. Obradovich faced three batters, striking out one and getting the save.