LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Royals baseball team kicked off another busy week of home games on Monday afternoon against the visiting Panthers of Davenport University (Mich.). The visiting Panthers entered the 2015 season ranked 19th in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll that was released back in November. In their first of five games this week, the Royals suffered an 11-6 loss and drop to 4-9 on the season.
After falling behind 2-0 early, the Royals scored two runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Tomas Rivera gave the Royals a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI double to center field. The visitors didn't stay down for long, sending a two-run homerun over the left field wall to go on top 4-3. After the go-ahead shot, the visitors never relinquished the lead.
Jose Hernandez, in his sixth appearance, took his first loss of the season. Hernandez went five complete innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits. Bobby Barradas pitched four innings of relief and allowed four runs on five hits.
Chase Coon led the Royals at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Tomas Rivera was 2-for-4 at the dish and drove in two runs. Jose Quintana also had a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3.
The Royals will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 24th for a rare mid-week double header against the Maple Leafs of Goshen College (Ind.). Game one of the double header is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
