OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team pounded out 16 hits in game one of Friday's doubleheader to defeat Alderson Broaddus 15-8. Game two, which was set to be seven innings, was suspended due to darkness, tied at two after nine innings. The game will resume on Sunday at 12 pm CT with the regularly scheduled nine inning game to follow.
Game 1: AB 8 – KWC 15
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead after the first two frames. With the bases loaded, Andrew Kirkland drove in two on a throwing error by the third basemen. Ostin Clark followed up with another fielder's choice that was able to score Joseph Burke.
Alderson Broaddus responded with one run in the top of the second before the Panthers tallied two more in the bottom of the frame. Cody Bridges brought home Ben Wilcoxson with a single to left field before Lane Kennemore tallied a sacrifice fly.
The Battlers made it a three run game in the top of the fourth until Wesleyan exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kennemore drove in one with a RBI groundout while Kirkland and Cam Curry both tallied RBI singles. Ostin Clark brought home two with a double down the left field line while the final three runs were scored on a wild pitch and a pair of bases loaded walks.
In the top of seventh the Battlers plated five runs to cut the deficit to 13-8. Bridges put momentum back on the Panthers side in the bottom of the seventh with a RBI single up the middle, scoring Maxey. Maxey drove in Wesleyan's final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth with a line drive up the middle.
Ryan Hundley picked up his fourth win of the season after striking out eight and allowing seven hits off and three runs in 5.0 innings. In 1.1 innings of relief, Allen Howe gave up five runs off of three hits. Spencer Jackson held the Battlers scoreless in 0.2 innings, striking out two and allowing three hits. Joey Lara threw the final 2.0 innings, walking his first batter than retiring six straight including three strikeouts in the ninth.
Bridges finished game one four-for-five at the plate with three runs scored and two driven in. Curry went three-for-four with one runs scored and one driven in. Clark, Maxey, Wilcoxson tallied two hits a piece.
Game 2: AB 2 – KWC 2
Game two was suspended due to darkness after nine innings with the score knotted at two. The two teams will resume play on Sunday at 12 pm CT.
A pitchers duel quickly developed as the first run wasn't scored until the fifth inning. Wesleyan got on the board first with a balk before Bridges drove in another run with a single through the right side.
The Battlers strung together three hits with two outs in the sixth to knot the game at two. Alderson Broaddus threatened in the top of the eighth with two runners on and one out. Cam Curry snagged a ball in left field before throwing out the runner tagging up at second for the inning ending double play.
Wesleyan loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth but were unable to capitalize. The Panthers put the winning run 90 feet away with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but a strike out would end the inning.
Sammy Holder pitched 6.1 innings, striking out two and allowing eight hits and two runs. Alex Franzen has pitched 2.2 innings, striking out three and holding the Battlers to one hit and zero runs.
The two teams will resume game two at 12 pm CT on Sunday before playing Sunday's regularly scheduled nine-inning game.
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