Claflin Falls to #10 West Florida in the Opening Round of the 2016 NCAA DII South Regional

TAMPA, Florida —The Claflin University Baseball team fell to #10 West Florida, 17-1, in its opening game of the 2016 NCAA Division II South Regional.  The Panthers, (24-28), will face the loser of the Nova Southeastern/West Georgia matchup on Friday at 11 a.m.
 
The Regional, which runs through Monday, May 23, is being contested at the University of Tampa Baseball Field in Tampa, Fla.
 
Elliott Melton led off the game with a single to centerfield for Claflin.  A bunt by Jabari Brown and subsequent pass-ball moved Melton to third with one out but the Panthers could not capitalize.
 
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the first, West Florida (35-15) scored runs in the next eight innings. The Argonauts scored one run in the second, two in each of the third and fourth, one in the fifth, six in the sixth, one in the seventh, and four in the eighth en route to its 17 runs.
 
Elliott Melton scored the Panthers only run of the game off a two-out RBI single to right field by Brown in the top of the sixth.
 
Wendell Ferguson, who allowed five runs in 3.2 innings, was credited with the loss and Gray Dorsey picked up his second win of the season for West Florida.

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COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS