MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team picked up their first win of the season on Friday, posting a 3-1 win in the series opener against Wayne State.  Reigning G-MAC Pitcher of the Year Devin Smith recorded his first win of the season while redshirt senior Cody Bridges became the program's all time hits leader.

The Panthers got on the board early, taking a 3-0 lead after two innings.  In the bottom of the first, Joseph Burke smashed a two-out solo home run for his first home run of the season.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the second, Bridges drove in Brayden Sisson with an infield single for career hit number 225.  Bridges takes over as the all-time hits leader, passing Jordan White who recorded 224 from 2009 to 2012.

Lane Kennemore followed Bridges with a bloop single to center, scoring Ben Wilcoxson and putting the Panthers ahead 3-0.

The Warriors threatened in the top of the fourth with one out and one runner in scoring position but Smith struck out the side to end the threat.

Bo Robison took the mound with two outs in the sixth, retiring the first four batters he faced including a pair of strikeouts.

Wayne State got on the board with a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth before Drake Hamil punched the final out.

Smith finished with 8 strikeouts, four hits and no runs in 5.2 innings.  Robison went 2.1 innings with four strikeouts, one hit and no runs.  Hamil earned his first save of the season, striking out one and allowing one run in 1.0 innings.

Bridges, Kennemore, Burke, Sisson and Wilcoxson each tallied one hit while Bridges, Kennemore and Burke drove in one run each.

The Panthers will square off with the Warriors again on Saturday with a pair of seven-inning games.  First pitch is set for 11 am CT at The Shipyard Park in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

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