On senior day at Benton Tuesday, the Panthers (12-13, 4-6) took down the Pine Bluff Zebras (9-10, 4-6) by a final of 6-4.
One of Benton’s four seniors, Ross Carver, served as their starting pitcher. Carver finished with six strikeouts, and he gave up three hits for one run.
The Zebras got off to a nice start by connecting for three hits in the first inning. Jaylon Deshazier recorded a RBI single to give Pine Bluff an early one run lead.
Deshazier was the starting pitcher for the Zebras, and he retired the first three batters he faced.
In the top of the second, two HBPs by Carver and an errant throw from home to second allowed the Zebras to go up 2-0.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Benton would then respond by settling in on Deshazier and reeling off a couple hits. After a base hit by Jacob Cooper, a fielders choice allowed a runner on first for the Panthers. Peyton Pallette followed with an RBI single for Benton’s first run of the game.
Carver picked up two KOs to quickly end the top half of the third, and that’s when things got problematic for Pine Bluff. In the bottom half, Deshazier gave up three hits and walked three batters, granting Benton five runs.
Heading into the top of the sixth with a 6-2 lead, Benton head coach Mark Balisterri relieved Carver from the mound for Yates Prickett. Although Pine Bluff trailed, they were still playing hard, and that gave them a chance at a rally.
Pine Bluff’s Xavier Smith recorded the first hit off of Prickett with a stand up double. Smith then scored as Chris Crane blasted a two-run homer that drifted over the left field wall.
Crane’s homer brought life to the Zebras’ dugout, and it brought them within two runs. Pine Bluff had one last shot to tie or take the lead in the seventh, but Prickett closed the game out by retiring three straight batters.
Pine Bluff will now hold their senior day at Taylor Field on Thursday when they face off against Watson Chapel in a doubleheader.