OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team pounced early in game one and strung together a final inning rally in game two to sweep a Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against Davis & Elkins College on Friday. With the pair of wins, the Panthers improve to 17-14 overall and 7-7 in the G-MAC.
Game One: KWC 10 – Davis & Elkins 7
Wesleyan was quick to score in the top of the first after stringing together three hits. Cody Bridges knocked a single through the left side and stole second to move into scoring position with one out. Joseph Burke brought home Bridges with a double down the left field line. Andrew Kirkland kept things going with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field.
The Senators answered back with one run in the bottom of the first. Ryan Hundley shut down Davis & Elkins, only allowing one hit over the next five innings.
In the top of the third the Panthers extended its lead to 9-0 after scoring six runs off of five hits and one error. Wesleyan loaded the bases with no outs when Andrew Kirkland grounded into a double play but Lane Kennemore was able to score. Ostin Clark ripped a single through the left side, scoring Bridges. Two batters later, Jake Carter tucked a fly ball down the right field line, driving in Ethan Maxey and Clark. Chris Johnson knocked a double in the left center gap to bring home Carter. Johnson then stole third but a throwing error from the pitcher allowed him to score Wesleyan's sixth and final run of the inning.
With two out and two on in the top of the seventh, Maxey hit a single to centerfield, scoring Burke to put the Panthers ahead 10-1.
A pair of base clearing doubles in the seventh and ninth inning plated six runs for the Senators but Wesleyan held on for the win.
Hundley picked up his second win of the season, striking out nine in 6.1 innings while allowing four runs off of five hits. Joey Lara pitched the final 2.2 innings, striking out two and giving up three runs off of two hits.
Bridges finished game one three-for-four at the plate with two runs scored. Burke went two-for-two with one run driven in and one scored. Maxey finished two-for-three with one run driven in and one scored. Kirkland, Clark, Carter, Johnson and Ben Wilcoxson each recorded one hit.
Game Two: KWC 3 – Davis & Elkins 3 (seven innings)
The night cap was a pitchers duel as the two teams combined for five hits over the first five innings. Davis & Elkins was the first to score in the bottom of the fifth after a lead off single, sacrifice bunt and another single.
With two on and one out in the top of the seventh, Kennemore knocked a double to left center, scoring Levi Tanner and tying the game at one. Kiah Gledhill utilized a wild pitch to give the Panthers the lead followed by a single from Burke to put Wesleyan ahead 3-1.
In the bottom of the seventh the Senators put two on with no outs to have the game winning run in the batters box. Alex Franzen escaped the jam with two fly balls and a pop up in foul territory.
Sammy Holder improved to 5-2 on the season, allowing one run off of five hits in 6.0 innings while striking out three. Franzen picked up his fourth save of the season, throwing 1.0 innings and allowing one hit. Neither pitcher allowed a walk.
The Panthers and Senators wrap up the series on Saturday with a single game at 12 pm CT.
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