AMERICUS, Ga. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team dropped its first game of the 2017 season, but a late rally in game two allowed the Panthers to come away with a double header split against Georgia Southwestern. The Panthers move to 1-1 on the season while the Canes are 3-2.
Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 2 – Georgia Southwestern 3
The Panthers struck first, scoring one in the top of the first inning. Cody Bridges led off the game being hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a groundout from Nathan Stemle. Josh Galvan drove in Bridges with a single to centerfield. Kentucky Wesleyan had runners on second and third but were unable to add to their lead.
Georgia Southwestern responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame with a single with two runners on. The Canes tacked on another run in the third to take a 2-1 lead. A tight defensive matchup saw only eight hits in the next seven innings of play.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Seth Campbell ripped a double to centerfield. Georgia Southwestern brought in a relief pitcher to face Levi Tanner. The junior reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowed Campbell to score from second and knot the game at two.
A leadoff single was all the Canes needed, as a sacrifice bunt, hit by pitch and another single would allow the base runner to score with two outs.
Galvan finished game one three-for-four at the plate with one run batted in and one double. Adam Brown went two-for-three, drawing one walk and hitting one double. Zach Burton went 3.0 innings on the mound, allowing two runs off of five hits while striking out three. Mitchell Jones struck out four in 5.2 innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits.
Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 4 – Georgia Southwestern 3 (7 innings)
In game two, the Panthers scored first again but not until the third inning. Tanner led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. The next batter Bridges grounded out to the short stop but it was a well-hit ball that allowed Tanner to score.
The Canes responded with three runs to take a 3-1 lead after three innings of play. That score would stick until the Panthers executed a two-out three-run rally in the sixth inning.
With two outs, Campbell drew a walk and advanced to second after Tanner was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position. Bridges dug in and ripped a triple to right field to score both runners and tie the game at three. Stemle kept the rally alive with a single to center field that scored Bridges.
Georgia Southwestern drew a walk to start the bottom of the sixth but Nate Verst and Alex Franzen closed out the final two innings with six up and six down including three strikeouts.
Stemle was a perfect four-for-four at the plate in game two, driving in one run. Bridges finished two-for-four with three runs driven in and soring one himself. Campbell with two-for-two with one walk while Tanner was one-for-two with two runs scored,
Ryan Hundley went 4.0 innings, striking out five and allowing three runs off of five hits. Verst earned his first win of the season, pitching 2.0 innings and striking out two. Franzen pitched the final inning, striking out two. The Panther pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts while holding Georgia Southwestern to just two walks.
The Panthers will be back in action on Sunday as they take on West Alabama at 11 am CT in Americus, Ga.
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