NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team pounded out five home runs on Saturday, including a walk off grand slam in game two, to sweep the Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Panthers have smashed 26 home runs in the past 12 games.
Game 1: Walsh 3 – KWC 10
Ostin Clark put Wesleyan on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with a two run home run to left field. Back-to-back doubles from Andrew Kirkland and Clark in the bottom of the third plated two more runs. Ethan Maxey drove in Clark with a single to right center to put the Panthers ahead 5-0 after three innings.
Cody Bridges led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple to the corner in left field. With runners on the corners and one out, Kennemore broke for second, allowing Bridges to score.
In the bottom of the fifth Maxey led off with a single through the left side and reached third after a wild pitch and a single from Jake Carter. Walsh's catcher attempted to throw out Maxey at third, but a throwing error allowed Maxey to come home.
Maxey kept things going in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Kirkland with a one out single through the left side.
The Cavaliers scored their first run of the game in the top of the eighth with a three run home run but Wesleyan responded with a dinger of their own in the bottom of the frame. Cam Curry knocked a two run home run to left field to seal the 10-3 win for the Panthers.
Chris Johnson picked up his third win of the season to move to 3-0 after striking out six and allowing four hits and holding Walsh scoreless in 6.2 innings. Joey Lara threw the final 2.1 innings, striking out two and giving up three runs off of three hits.
Wesleyan pounded out 15 hits in game one with Maxey leading the way at four-for-five with one run scored and two driven in. Joe Burke finished three-for-four with one run scored. Kirkland, Clark and Carter recorded two hits a piece while Bridges and Curry tabbed one each.
Game 2: Walsh 7 – KWC 9 (7 innings)
Walsh opened game two with four runs over the first two innings. Maxey made it a one run game in the bottom of the second with a three-run home run, his first collegiate home run.
The Cavaliers broke open the game again in the fifth inning, taking a 7-3 lead with two to play.
Alex Franzen shut Walsh's offense down, not allowing a base runner in the final two innings. Burke cut the deficit to three in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field.
With two on and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Kirkland ripped a single through the left side, scoring Bridges and making it a two-run ballgame. Clark hit a rocket line drive back to the pitcher that landed in no man's land, loading the bases with one out. Facing a 2-1 count, Burke smashed the ball over the left field fence for a walk off grand slam, the teams second walk off home run of the season.
Maxey finished game two-for-three at the plate with three runs driven in. Burke went three-for-four with three runs and five driven in. Kennemore tabbed three hits whole Clark recorded two.
Zach Burton pitched the first 2.1 innings, striking out one and allowing four runs off of nine hits. Mitchell Jones threw 2.2 innings with four strikeouts, three runs and four hits. Franzen picked up his first win of the season, striking out one and not allowing a baserunner in the final two innings.
The Panthers head north next weekend to take on a pair of conference newcomers. Wesleyan takes on the University of Findlay on Friday followed by Hillsdale College on Saturday.
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