MASON, Ohio – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team avoided elimination for the third time in two days and will get another chance to retain their Great Midwest Conference Title. The Panthers eliminated Walsh 11-5 on Friday afternoon and took down Malone 13-4 to punch their ticket to Championship Saturday at Prasco Park. Cam Curry threw a complete against the Cavaliers while Joseph Burke kept crushing baseballs in the day's finale against Malone.
 
Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 11 - Walsh 5
Cam Curry had thrown 17 innings leading-up the G-MAC Championship Tournament. On Friday Curry extended the Panthers' pitching staff with a complete game. The Cavs (26-23) managed to score five runs, four earned on 13 hits while Curry struck-out five to earn his second win of the season.  
 
The bats began to awaken in the fourth inning as Wesleyan already held a 1-0 lead. The Panthers (30-21) were threatening with two runners on base, Levi Tanner moved to bunt them into scoring position. Tanner beat out the throw to first and as the ball got away on the error, both runs scored. Cody Bridges drove-in another run to extend the Panthers' lead to 4-0.
 
Cody Jackson drove-in two runs with a single in the eighth inning and helped build an 8-1 lead. Walsh scored a pair in the bottom half, but were cornered in the ninth. Joseph Burke was walked four times in the contest, but with the bases loaded the Cavs had no choice to pitch to the Panthers' first baseman. Burke cleared the bags with a double, pushing the Wesleyan lead to 11-3.
 
Bridges went three for six with a triple and RBI. Andrew Kirkland finished three for five with a double and RBI. Lane Kennemore was also three for five with three RBIs.
 
Game Two: Malone 4 - Kentucky Wesleyan 13
The momentum continued into the night-cap as the Panthers extended the sixth inning, scoring seven runs to bust the game open. The Pioneers (34-18) scored the opening run of the game in the top of the first, but the Panthers answered back in the third with Burke. Bridges reached on an error, stole second, and was able to walk to home after Burke clubbed a two-run homerun over the left-field fence.
 
Kirkland continued the rally with a solo shot. Ostin Clark double and scored another run on Jackson's double into centerfield. The Panthers carried a 6-2 lead into the sixth. Nate Verst held-up in relief and had to warm-up again as Wesleyan produced a seven run sixth. Kennemore started the rally with his first career homerun, a two-run shot over the leftfield fence.
 
A bases loaded walk followed by two singles scored three more runs. Ben Wilcoxson added another with a sacrifice fly while Bridges followed with another RBI single. The Panthers led 13-2 six innings. Malone scored twice in the seventh to avoid an early ending to the game.
 
Verst finished the final six innings to earn his third win of the season. Verst allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Burke was four for five with a homerun and two RBIs. Kirkland finished the night three for four with a homerun and one RBI. Jackson collected three RBIs on the night.
 
The Panthers will face Hillsdale on Saturday. The Panthers will have to take two games to retain their G-MAC Championship and advance back into the NCAA Tournament. First pitch at Prasco Park is scheduled for 11 AM CT.
 
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