BOWLING GREEN, KY. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team and the University of Indianapolis showed the importance of an early season series, playing both games on Sunday as if it was a tournament elimination game. The Greyhounds escaped with a 9-7 win the opener and scored another late run in the finale to take 4-3 win.
GAME 1 – Indianapolis 9, Kentucky Wesleyan 7
The Panthers' (2-3) miscues in the top of the first inning allowed two runs to score. In the bottom half Wesleyan answered back with a two-out double from Joseph Burke which scored Andrew Kirkland from first base. Cam Curry led off the bottom of the second with a single and later scored on error to tie the game. Lane Kennemore singled down the leftfield line to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead. A wild pitch scored another and Wesleyan was back in control 4-2.
UIndy (2-1) cut their deficit in half in the third with a run, but the Panthers put two more tallies on the board in the fourth. A one-out double from Cody Bridges got one run back while Kennemore drove in another. The lead was short lived as the Hounds scored three times in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 6-6. Joe Kenney hit a two-out double that plated two runs, tying the game.
The Panthers fell behind 7-6 after Indy scored in the top of the sixth, but Bridges tied the game with a two-out single into center in the bottom half. The toughest out of the series was Macy Holdsworth who broke the tie in the eighth with a two-out solo homerun over the leftfield fence. Nick Miller homered in the ninth to give the Greyhounds some insurance. The Panthers put the first two on board in the bottom of the ninth, but two strikeouts and a fly-out ended the game.
Bridges finished the game two for five with a double and two RBIs. Kennemore was also two for five with two RBIs. Nate Verst pitched three innings of relief and picked-up a tough loss. Verst allowed two runs on three hits with pair of strikeouts.
GAME 2 – Indianapolis 4, Kentucky Wesleyan 3
The Greyhounds scored a run in the first and second inning to take a 2-0 lead in the series finale. The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the second with Chris Johnson's two-out double into right center, scoring Levi Tanner and Ethan Maxey.
The Panthers took a 3-2 lead after three after a sacrifice fly from Burke. The lead did not last long as Holdsworth homered to left to tie the game in the top of the fourth. As the temperature dropped both teams struggled to score, leaving multiple runner on base and in scoring position.
Mitchell Jones was dealing in relief of Sammy Holder who went six strong innings. Jones got the first two outs in the ninth with Holdsworth coming to plate. After a walk, Kyle Orloff doubled-in the game-winning run. Holder allowed three runs, two earned on seven hits with five strikeouts to receiving a no-decision. Jones completed three innings allowing one run with three strikeouts.
Bridges was two for five with a double. Kennemore finished the game two for four with a double.
The Panthers will next play over spring break in Florida. Wesleyan will open a three-game series against Wayne State on February 25th.
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