WILSON, N.C. – In their highly anticipated return to the diamond, the Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team split their season opening doubleheader against Grand Valley State. It marked 363 days in between games as the Panthers won game one 7-2 before falling in extras 7-6 in the night cap.
GAME 1: GVSU 2 – KWC 7
Wesleyan held a 4-0 lead after the second inning. Ben Wilcoxson stepped up with the bases loaded and nobody out, drilling a fly ball to deep right center and allowing all three runners to score. The Panthers plated two more in the bottom of the fifth after back-to-back doubles from Chase Andrews and Ian Ellis.
The Lakers almost made it a two-run game in the top of the sixth with a lead off home run. The runner missed third base and was called out after Wesleyan appealed. The final run came in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Hunter Combs.
Devin Smith dazzled on the mound, striking out 11 in 6.1 innings while giving up two runs off of six hits. Smith gave up a triple to start the second inning, then struck out the side with all three going down swinging.
The Lakers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Seth Wright took the mound, forcing a ground out and strikeout to seal the win for the Panthers.
Cody Bridges, Brayden Sisson and Andrews each recorded two hits in game one.
GAME 2: KWC 6 – GRAND VALLEY 7 (10 INNS.)
Grand Valley led 6-1 after six innings but the Panthers plated three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to force extra innings. Joseph Burke, Combs and Sisson each drove in a run in the seventh. After Robert Chayka led off the eighth with a single up the middle, Wilcoxson tucked a double down the right field line, allowing Chayka to score. Wilcoxson eventually scored as the catcher threw away a short groundball in front of the plate.
The Lakers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth but Drake Hamil tabbed a strike out and groundout to send the game to extras. Grand Valley walked it off in the bottom of the tenth with a two-out single through the left side.
Benton McGill got the start on the mound, striking out three in 4.0 innings. Bo Robison also struck out three in 3.2 innings. Drake Hamil took the loss after throwing the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts, one hit and one run.
Burke went three-for-four with two RBI's while Chayka finished three-for-five.
The Panthers close out their weekend trip to North Carolina on Saturday with a single game against Ashland.
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