Coyotes swept by Panthers

After a 7-2 loss to the San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno baseball team earlier in the week on the road, the Madera Coyotes baseball team couldn’t get back on track losing by the same score to the Panthers at Mel Parker field in a County/Metro Athletic Conference matchup.

Alex Trukki got the start and gave his team a good performance Friday afternoon. He went four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.

Trukki had a positive outing, but Madera’s lackluster defense made the pitching staff’s job much harder. Trukki was pounding the strike zone and giving the Panthers some trouble, but things began to unravel as the game went on.

Trukki threw 73 pitches and 46 for strikes. Coming into the game, the Panthers had scored the most runs in the CMAC (200) and it was going to take a solid pitching performance to beat the second-place team in the CMAC.

All three Coyotes pitchers — Trukki, Nate Martinez and Caleb Galindo — suffered from a defensive miscue at some point during their appearance, which led to three unearned runs.

Despite the lackluster defense, the Coyotes (13-13, 5-8) were getting good contact on the ball. Kristian Gomez had a double during a two-hit night. Cole Brincefied had one of the two Coyote RBI’s and Shane Pursell had the other.

Madera opened the game on the strong foot after Pursell hit a home run to give Madera an early 1-0 lead. Pursell waited patiently at the plate before sending a shot over the Mel Park Field fence.

Pursell shined the brightest for Madera with two hits, including a home run.

First baseman Tommy Molina also chipped in a hit and right fielder Sam Hass scored a run, collected a hit and made a crowd-cheering grab late in the game.

For the Panthers (22-5, 11-2), they are tied for the second spot in the CMAC and on a five-game win streak.

At the plate, the Panthers had to work against Trukki and company.

Madera had eight hits, compared to seven from Memorial, but the visitors cashed in on their chances often.

Memorial’s bottom three hitters had three RBI’s, three hits and two runs.

With playoffs starting in a matter of weeks, seeding is important. With a two-game series left to go against the Edison-Fresno Tigers, the Madera Coyotes can get some momentum for the postseason.