Baseball: Huskies Defeat Panthers in Extra Innings

In a rivalry game that stretched into extra innings, the Flint Hill Huskies defeated the Potomac Panthers 3-2 on a walk with bases loaded in the eighth. 

Tuesday's win is the Huskies' second in a row to put the Huskies' Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference record at 2-0. 

After starting pitcher Tommy Doyle held the Panthers scoreless through two innings, the Panthers tallied the first runs of the game on three hits in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. 

Doyle, who pitched six innings, did not allow another run in the game. He struck out six batters and did not give up a walk. Nick Bazzarone closed the game, striking out three and giving up no runs or walks in two innings of work.

"[Tommy] wasn't happy with his last outing, but I thought he really came back and threw a great game today," Coach Tom Verbanic said. "I thought he had great control. In eight innings, we didn't walk anyone. Bazz did a great job coming in, also."

The Huskies answered the Panthers' two runs with one of their own in the bottom of the third. Left fielder Christian Tailor, a freshman, hit a line drive double to left field to drive in the run with two outs in the bottom of the third.

An inning later, Luke Belt scored the tying run on the shortstop's throw to first base after fielding a single from Felix Van der Vaart. 

The next three innings showcased a pitchers' duel that saw only two Panthers and four Huskies on the base path. None scored, pushing the game to an extra inning.

After two quick putouts from the left side of the infield, the Huskies allowed two hits and committed an error to load the bases. Bazzarone brought the Panthers' Ashton Standsbury to a full count, and won the battle to strike him out swinging.

The Huskies tallied two outs in the bottom of the eighth with its first two batters only to rally to load the bases after Van der Vaart drew a walk, Bazzarone was intentionally walked and Harrison Gray was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Tailor watched four straight pitches miss the strike zone to draw a walk to score the winning run. 

"We always anticipate a close game with them," Verbanic said. "They're a good team, well-coached, so it's always going to be a close game."

The Huskies will travel to Sidwell Friends for another conference game 4:30 p.m. Friday.