OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team suffered a 9-5 loss to Oakland City on Saturday before another offensive outburst gave the Panthers a 15-3 win in the non-conference doubleheader. The Panthers took the weekend series 3-1 to improve to 10-11 on the season.
Game One: Oakland City 9 – Kentucky Wesleyan 5
The Panthers wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. With one out and two runners on, Jacob Snodgrass knocked a single to right center to drive in Cody Bridges. Levi Tanner hit a groundball to the first basemen who made a throwing error at the plate, allowing Josh Galvan to score.
Oakland City tabbed four hits in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, and extended it to 4-2 in the fifth.
Kentucky Wesleyan's offense woke up in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at four. Facing two outs and two runners in scoring position, Lane Kennemore tripled to center field to clear the bases and even the score entering the final inning.
Back-to-back sacrifice flies, followed by back-to-back singles plated five runs for the Mighty Oaks in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the frame, Galvan smashed a home run to straight away center for his third dinger of the season and second of the series. The Panthers had a scoring opportunity with two runners on and one out, but a double play ended the game.
Mitchell Jones suffered his fifth loss of the season, pitching 6.0 innings, striking out two and allowing five runs off of eight hits and two walks. In 1.0 innings of relief, Nate Verst allowed four runs off of four hits.
Snodgrass finished game one a perfect three-for-three at the plate with one run driven in and scoring one himself. Bridges, Galvan, Kennemore and Levi Tanner each recorded one hit with Kennemore leading the team with two RBI's.
Game Two: Oakland City 3 – Kentucky Wesleyan 15
It was déjà vu in game two with the Panthers holding a 2-0 lead after the first inning. With two on and one out, Adam Brown doubled down the right field line to score Kennemore. Two batter later, Galvan scored on a wild pitch.
Cody Jackson hit his second home run of the season and second of the season in the bottom of the third, a two-run shot to left field. In the bottom of the fourth, Brown hit a home run to dead center for his third of the season, putting the Panthers ahead 7-0 after four.
With two outs in the fifth, Bridges and Kennemore tabbed back-to-back singles to plate three more runs and extend the lead to 10.
The Mighty Oaks responded with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth off of four hits.
Their comeback hopes were cut short as Kentucky Wesleyan scored their final five runs in the bottom of the inning. Jackson drove in one with a single to right field and Bridges drew a walk with the bases loaded. Kennemore knocked a run-two single to right field and Bridges scored on a wild pitch to cap off the 15-3 win.
Sammy Holder picked up his third win of the season, striking out five and allowing three runs off of six hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. In 1.1 innings of relief, Spencer Jackson didn't allow any baserunners, striking out three of the four batters faced.
Kennemore and Jackson each finished game two three-for-four at the plate. Galvan and Brown each tabbed two hits while Bridges, Snodgrass, Andrew Kirkland and Nathan Stemle each recorded one. Kennemore drove in four runs while Brown and Jackson each had three.
Kentucky Wesleyan opens up play in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference next weekend. The Panthers will head to Ohio Valley for a four-game series against the Fighting Scots with a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, both set to start at 11 am CT.
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