MASON, OH - The Kentucky Wesleyan Baseball team battled the G-MAC regular season champion Ashland Eagles to the brink in Wednesday's G-MAC tournament opener, falling 7-6 in a heartbreaker. With the Panthers leading 6-5 late, Ashland scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal the game and advance to the winners side of the bracket. 

The Eagles (39-11) scored two runs in the third to open the scoring. Cade Gudalis answered back in the fourth, tying things up with a two-run shot to left field that scored Bryce Zupan. The Panthers (17-31) took the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to RBI double from Braden Vinyard and Zupan. 

The Eagles took advantage of Wesleyan errors in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring two unearned runs to tie things up at four. Noah Davis hit an RBI single in the seventh, and Cade Moore scored thanks to an Ashland error in the eighth to put the Panthers up one. Ashland's offense came alive in the bottom of then ninth, as they scored two runs to grab the win. 

Wesleyan has gone toe-to-toe with Ashland this year, as despite going 0-5 vs. the Eagles on the season, the Panthers have only lost by a combined 10 runs. 

Braden Vinyard was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Bryce Zupan was 2-for-4 with both a run scored and an RBI. 

Starter Evan Oakley fanned six and gave up just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work. Nick Judd (2-5) struck out two in the loss. 

The Panthers will now face Walsh tomorrow in a win-or-go-home game at Legacy Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. CT. If the Panthers put away the Cavaliers, they will face the loser of Trevecca Nazarene and Ashland at 6:15 p.m. CT. at Legacy. 

Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.