by Ally Doty
The Pensacola State College baseball team faced Faulkner State Community College for their home opener of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 5, and lost 8-4.
After creating a 3-1-1 record on the road to begin their season, the Pirates created numerous opportunities to score runs in each inning but were only successful a few times.
Early in the first inning, a driven ball to left field flew through PSC sophomore Brett Casteel’s glove which gave FSCC two runs.
The Pirates responded quickly when Toby Thomas, a freshman from Eight Mile, Ala., hit a line drive in left field and rounded to second base.
Sophomore Taylor Eads struck the ball to the outfield and gave Thomas enough room to put the Pirates on the board.
FSCC scored twice in the top of the third inning and took the lead again, 4-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Pirates had the bases loaded for the first time in the game, but they could not obtain runs when Benton Siegal struck out and let FSCC keep the lead, 5-2.
PSC prevented FSCC from scoring again in the seventh inning when they hit a bullet to short stop, and Eads threw to first base for the third out.
Thomas, up to bat, hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh that sent the ball over scoreboard and his teammates to home plate as they welcomed him with smiles and high-fives.
Before the end of the game FSCC put three more runs on the board at the top of the ninth inning and struck out PSC in the bottom. The Sun Chiefs won 8-4.
The Pirates will play at home again Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. against Jefferson Davis Community College.