The Fort Stockton varsity baseball team faced a 16-7 deficit heading into the final inning of their season opener on the road against Brownfield.

The Panthers scored eight runs in the top of the seventh inning and had the tying run at third base with two outs but were unable to complete the comeback in a 16-15 defeat.

Fort Stockton’s scoring frenzy in the seventh was propelled by Ethan Acosta and Julian Leyva’s singles, six walks and a Brownfield defensive error.

Senior Adrian Hernandez had two at bats in the frame and scratched out a double in his second appearance with two outs before advancing to third base via a passed ball.

Brownfield’s fourth pitcher of the game, Andrew Valencia, concluded the game by forcing a fly out.

The teams combined for 34 hits during the contest and featured seven pitchers between the teams.

Fort Stockton tallied 15 hits, led by Hernandez’s 4-of-6 performance at the plate.

Xzavier Dominguez hit the Panthers lone home run and ended the game with two hits. Jacob Pacheco also scratched out a pair of hits in a 2-of-2 evening at the plate.

Fort Stockton used three pitchers in the contest. Alfredo Molina pitched the first three innings, allowing nine hits, one walk, seven earn runs, and striking out one in 67 pitches.

Cruz Rojas had a one-inning stint and allowed seven hits, one walk, five earned runs and struck out two batters.

Julian Leyva pitched the final two frames and allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out one.

Fort Stockton hosts the Comanche Classic Feb. 23-25. Fort Stockton is scheduled to play Big Lake at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, El Paso Davinci on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., and Big Spring at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Panthers win final baseball scrimmage, alumni games The Fort Stockton baseball team traveled to Sonora for their last scrimmage Feb. 17. The Panther varsity secured a 7-4 win and the junior claimed a 7-0 victory. In the Alumni game on Feb. 18, the freshman and sophomore classes defeated the Alumni team 11-4 and the junior and senior classes defeated the Alumni 7-6.