COLUMBUS, GA - The Claflin Panthers (1-42, 0-25 PBC) gave a great effort, but the team took a 12-2 road loss to the Columbus State Cougars (29-19, 15-10 PBC), Friday evening. The team had a solid night at the plate, but the team could not keep up with the hard-hitting Columbus State team.
 
The loss came despite a solid hitting night for the Panthers. As a team, Claflin totaled four hits in the game and only left four runners on base. Claflin junior catcher D.J. Mungenast went two-for-two at the plate with a run scored. Senior first base Malcolm Brown went one for three with a double and two runs batted in (RBI). Senior outfielder Kobe Miller added a one-for-two batting effort with a runs scored as well.
 
The Panthers' two runs came late in the game. After allowing 12 runs to the Cougars, the Panthers were able to get into the scoring column in the sixth inning when Brown hit a two-RBI double that scored Mungenast and Miller. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to score any more runs and finished the night with the 12-2 loss.
 
Claflin junior Michael Coit (0-3) took the pitching loss. He started the game and threw 3.2 innings. He finished the game with six runs allowed (five earned). Freshman Jordan Jackson came in for 2.1 innings with six runs allowed (five earned) and two strikeouts.
 
With the loss, the Panthers fall to 1-42 overall and 0-25 in Peach Belt Conference (PBC) play. The two teams will go on to complete the weekend series with a double-header tomorrow. For more information on Panthers baseball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.