MASON, Ohio – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team kicked off their Great Midwest Athletic Conference title defense in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, defeating Findlay in walk-off fashion after being swept by the Oilers in the regular season doubleheader.  The Panthers blasted four home runs on the day to reach 51 home runs on the season.

Wesleyan will face the No. 2 seed from the North Division, Malone University on Wednesday with first pitch set for 2:15 pm CT.  The Pioneers defeated Ohio Valley 10-8 in the first game of the day, also in walk-off fashion.

Findlay started the scoring in the top of the third with a two-run home run.  The Oilers threatened to extend their lead in the top of the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out but Ryan Hundley worked out of the jam.

Levi Tanner put the Panthers on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to right center, his second of the season.

In the bottom of the sixth, Andrew Kirkland gave Wesleyan their first lead of the game with a two-run home run to left center.  The Oilers evened things back up in the top of the seventh with a RBI single, knotting the game at three.

The home run train kept rolling in the bottom of the seventh, this time with Joseph Burke.  The sophomore knocked his 20th home run of the season, extending his lead in the KWC and G-MAC record books as the single season home run leader.  He currently ranks 10th in the nation.

Findlay responded in the top of the eighth to take a two-run lead.  With one out and the bases loaded, a bases clearing double off the left field wall scored three, giving the Oilers a 6-5 lead.

Wesleyan answered back in the bottom of the frame, tying the game once again.  With two outs and runners on the corners, Burke reached safely on a fielding error by the shortstop, allowing Cody Bridges to score and tie the game at 6.

The Panther defense shined in the top of the ninth to preserve the tie.  With a runner on first, the Oilers laid down a bunt that was scooped up by Andrew Kirkland at third and thrown to get the lead runner out at second.  Lane Kennemore fielded a groundball at second, touched second and threw it to first for the inning-ending double play.

Extra innings were looming as the Panthers first two batters flew out and grounded out in the bottom of the ninth.  Cam Curry stepped up and sent the first pitch he saw over the left field fence, sealing the 7-6 win for Wesleyan.

Bridges went a perfect five-for-five at the plate with one run scored while Kirkland finished three-for-five with two runs driven in and one run scored.  Curry and Tanner both tabbed two hits.

Ryan Hundley threw 7.0 innings, striking out 6 and allowing three runs off of eight hits.  Alex Franzen worked 1.0 inning of relief, striking out one and allowing three runs off of two hits.  Nate Verst picked up his second win of the season, holding the Oilers hitless in 1.0 innings.

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