OWENSBORO, KY - The Panthers are on a roll, as they took down Thomas More 4-0 and 6-3 to complete the four-game sweep. Who knows where the Panthers would be if it weren't for
Evan Oakley, who tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed just two hits in a complete game victory in the opener.
Kentucky Wesleyan improves to 13-18 (11-3 G-MAC), while Thomas More falls to 10-22 (3-15 G-MAC).
Following this weekend's games, the Panthers currently sit at number one in the conference standings, just ahead of Ashland at 10-3 and Findlay at 11-4.
Game One
As in the first two games, the Panthers got on the board first in this one.
Kyle Werries hit a big RBI double in the first inning to score
Noah Davis and make it 1-0 after one.
The pitching was strong on both sides for the next few innings, as the teams went scoreless into the fifth. In the bottom of that fifth inning,
Nick Wimber hit a single, and
Cade Moore was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for
Noah Davis. Davis delivered, as with two outs he hit a three-run bomb over the centerfield fence, giving Wesleyan a 4-0 lead. Oakley held the Saints scoreless over the final two innings to get the big win and officially claim the series victory.
Noah Davis was 2-for-3 with three RBI's and two runs, while
Cade Moore was 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Evan Oakley (2-5) not only had 10 strikeouts in the game, but he failed to walk a single batter, showing his strong control.
Game Two
For the first time on the weekend, the Panthers saw themselves trailing, as went down 1-0 after Thomas More's portion of the first inning.
Braxton French didn't let that lead last long, as he hit an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up at one.
The Panthers took control in the fourth, as
Braxton French scored on a passed ball, then
Nick Wimber hit a 2 RBI double to score
Braden Vinyard and
Rowan Teran. Wesleyan scored insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to seal the win.
Cade Moore was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while
Braden Vinyard was 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.
Isaac Rose (2-2) pitched a strong six innings to get the win, while
Austin Baugh pitched a one-hit final two innings to get the save.
The Panthers will play in their second straight home series next weekend when they host the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans. The games will take place on Friday and Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for noon both days.
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