The Clark Atlanta University Panthers are limping into their home opener this weekend with Kentucky State with a 1-5 overall record. Their sole win of the season coming on Feb. 9 against Tuskegee University at Home Plate Field, a suedo home field for both Clark and rival Morehouse College.
The 8-5 victory came on the strength of a strong start by Calvin Butler who threw eight innings only allowing two earned runs in the process, giving up just five hits and striking out eight. Aryton Gijsbertha went 3-4 with an RBI and Raphael Andrades was 2-6 with two RBI. Seven different Panthers drove in at least one run.
Most recently the Panthers were out scored 14-2 en route to losing a doubleheader at Point University on Tuesday. In game one Clark lost 3-2 with Point picked up the crucial winning run during the bottom of the sixth. The game had been tied at two from the third inning. Panther pitcher Victor Brown threw a complete game, giving up three earned runs and three walks.
Game two only went six innings as the Panthers lost 11-0. Clark Atlanta was down four runs after the first inning and down by seven runs after two innings. Panther pitcher Jamari Stewart took his first loss of the season after giving up four earned runs and five walks in 1.2 innings of work. Jamari Randle came on in relief and gave up four runs while managing to strike out six.
First pitch for Saturday’s game at Bill Evans Field (in College Park) is scheduled for 1pm.
