Head coach Jim Schmitz was not happy with the way his team performed in the series finale versus Tennessee-Martin.

“We’re just not a good team right now,” Schmitz said.

The Panthers had four errors ultimately costing them the 8-4 loss.

“I’m very disappointed in our play,” Schmitz said. “Yesterday we came out in the second game and perform well, and today we come out and we’re throwing the ball around.”

In the top of the third inning, with men on second and third with one out, Schmitz decided to keep the infield at normal depth.

Starting pitcher Erik Huber induced a hard ground ball to third but instead of going home with the throw, third baseman Ryan Campbell decided to take the out at first. The runner on third scored and the runner on second took off for third on Campbell’s throw to first.

First basemen Kevin Carkeek then fired the ball across the diamond in attempt to cut down the runner, but shortstop Kyle Haines collided with the runner and the throw was nowhere close to where it needed to be. The runner was awarded home and two runners came plateward on a play where the ball never left the infield.

“They got two runs on one play when we had a dead out at home,” Schmitz said. “I know most of them are freshmen, but these are plays that you make when you’re 12 years old.”

In the bottom of the third, the Panthers attempted to erase the three-run deficit but were only able to cut the Skyhawk lead to two.

Outfielder David Chacon led off the inning with a single to left, catcher Joe Hernandez followed that up with a strike out. Then, outfielder Mark Chagnon hit a long double that scored Chacon.

Skyhawk starting pitcher Scott Massey balked while facing the next batter allowing Chagnon to take third. With a man on third and one out, second baseman Chris Uhle struck out and then shortstop Kyle Haines fouled out to the left fielder stranding Chacon at third.

The Skyhawks led the top of the fourth off with two base hits and so Schmitz went to the bullpen. Huber was taken out in favor of Alex Chapple, who inherited the runners on first and third. The runner on first stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. The next batter then grounded out scoring the runner on third.

Then, Skyhawk Hunter Hart hit a ball to shortstop Haines, who charged and missed the ball allowing the runner to score from second.

With Bryant Jones in the batter’s box for the Skyhawks, Hart stole second and then took third on a wild pitch. Jones walked and Adam Salter stepped to the plate. With men on first and third, Jones took off for second and Hernandez missed a sign from Schmitz and threw to the wrong area as the ball ended between first and second base. Hernandez’s throwing error allowed Hart to score.

“We’ve got a catcher who doesn’t know the signs,” Schmitz said. “We haven’t done anything different all year long so that shouldn’t happen.”

Salter then singled to center and Jones was cut down at home on a pretty relay from Jackson, to Carkeek to Hernandez to end the inning.

The Panthers were unable to score in the fourth but did score a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to bring them to within two runs of the Skyhawks.

Freshman Chris Vaculik came in and gave the Panthers five strong innings but the Skyhawks would score twice more, one run in each of the final two innings putting the third and final game out of reach.

“We’ve never ever lost two of three to (Tennessee) Martin so that shows you where we are at right now,” Schmitz said.