OWENSBORO, KY - Kentucky Wesleyan poured in the runs late in both of their games against Lake Erie, but it was only enough in the first game, as the Panthers won 11-4 in the opener before falling 11-9 in the nightcap.
After this weekend's games, Kentucky Wesleyan improves to 8-12 (3-1 G-MAC), while Lake Erie now sits at 2-17 (1-3 G-MAC).
Game One
A close game early, the Panthers scored nine runs in the final two innings to blow out the Storm 11-4.
Brandon Valdez opened the scoring for the Panthers, hitting an RBI single in the second inning to score
Bryce Zupan.
Aric Lyons hit an RBI single on the next at bat to score
Cameron Langston and put Wesleyan up 2-0 after two innings.
Lake Erie scored two in the third and fifth innings to go up 4-2, but Wesleyan went off in the late innings to secure the win.
Nick Wimber and
Bryce Zupan each walked, then
Cameron Langston reached on a throwing error to load the bases in the top of the sixth.
Brandon Valdez then hit a huge 3-RBI double to take the lead. Valdez then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4 after six.
Seth Wright came in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning, giving Wesleyan a chance to extend the lead.
Nick Wimber led the seventh inning off with a walk, and advanced to third thanks to a
Bryce Zupan sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. He then made his way home on a wild pitch that walked Valdez.
Aric Lyons then doubled to score Valdez, and
Kyle Werries scored Lyons with an RBI single of his own.
Jaret Humphrey closed out the game with a two-run shot to centerfield, his fourth of the year.
Brandon Valdez,
Aric Lyons, and
Kyle Werries each recorded two hits in the contest. Valdez recorded three RBI's, while Lyons and
Jaret Humphrey added two.
Nick Judd was lights out, striking out 10 and allowing just two earned runs in five innings of work.
Game Two
Lake Erie found their rhythm right off the bat in game two, hitting a single and a home run in their first two at bats to quickly go up 2-0. Six more runs over the next four innings gave them a comfortable 8-0 lead going into the sixth.
In the top of the sixth,
Kyle Werries and
Jaret Humphrey each reached base, before
Zach Curtis brought them home with a three-run home run to centerfield, making it an 8-3 game.
Lake Erie tacked on three runs in the seventh and eighth innings, which would come to be very important, as the Panthers nearly won the game in the top of the ninth, scoring six runs in the inning.
Cade Gudalis was able to notch an RBI on a bases loaded walk, then
Bryce Zupan scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-5 LEC. With Gudalis and
Cameron Langston on base,
Kyle Werries his a three-run shot to left field to make it just a three-run game.
Braxton French hit an RBI single to score
Jaret Humphrey before Lake Erie forced a flyout to seal the win.
Kyle Werries went 2-for-5 with three RBI's and two runs scored, while
Zach Curtis went 1-for-3 with three RBI's and a run scored.
Isaac Rose (0-3) struck out five in the loss.
The Panthers will stay in Owensboro next week when they host the Chargers of Hillsdale College on Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch of both doubleheaders will be at noon.
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