LAKELAND, Fla. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team scored seven runs in the final three innings on Thursday night but were unable to complete the comeback against nationally ranked No. 4 Florida Southern College, falling 9-7.
The Mocs strung together seven hits in the second and third innings to plate seven runs.
Joey Lara took the mound in the fourth inning and worked a pair of one-two-three innings to 7-0. Florida Southern tabbed three hits in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-0.
Wesleyan's offense ignited in the final three innings, playing seven runs off of six hits.
Ethan Maxey led off the top of the seventh with a double to right center and reached third on a wild pitch.
Cam Curry stepped up and hit a long fly ball to center, deep enough for Maxey to tag up and put the Panthers on the board.
Cody Bridges led off the top of the eighth with a single up the middle and advanced to second when
Lane Kennemore drew a walk.
Andrew Kirkland brought them both home with a double to center field, making it 9-3 going into the ninth.
With two on and one out in the top of the ninth, Kirkland cleared the fence in left field for his second home run of the season. Two batters later, Joe Burke hit a moonshot to left for a solo home run, cutting the deficit to two runs. The ninth inning magic wasn't enough as the Panthers fell 9-7.
Zach Burton suffered his first loss of the season, striking out four and giving up seven runs off of eight hits. Lara struck out seven over four innings of relief and allowed three hits and two runs.
Allen Howe worked one scoreless inning with one strikeout. The Panther pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts while allowing only one walk.
Kennemore finished two-for-four at the plate with one run scored. Kirkland drove in a team-high five runs while going two-for-five and scoring one himself. Burke tabbed two hits while Bridges, Maxey and
Ostin Clark recorded one a piece.
The Panthers wrap up their Florida trip on Friday with their third and final game against Florida Southern with first pitch set for 12 pm CT.
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