OWENSBORO, Ky. – Kennedy Matheis launched a walk-off two-run home run over the center field fence to earn the Panthers their first G-MAC win of the season on Saturday at Foster Field.
Down 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, Riley Cunningham led off with a single through the left side to put the winning run at the plate. After Chloe Apple flew out to deep center field, Matheis stepped up next and delivered the winning home run before being mobbed by her teammates at the plate. The senior catcher also hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first, notching the first two-homer game of her career.
The Panthers began that Game 2 hot after falling 14-1 in Game 1. After starting pitcher Hannah Beasley put the Storm down in order, Bailey Markus hit a single and Cunningham doubled to put two runners in scoring position for Apple. The center field came through with a single to drive in Markus before Matheis blasted her first home run of the game to put Wesleyan up 4-0 early.
Lake Erie stormed back with three runs in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth to take a 6-4 advantage with just three opportunities left for KWC at the plate.
The Panthers managed to add one run in the bottom of the sixth on a Lauren Pellerito RBI double before putting together the game-winning sequence in the bottom of the seventh. On top of being their first G-MAC win, it's also Wesleyan's first triumph at Foster Field this year.
Matheis was the star of the show with her two home runs and 5 RBIs. Apple and Cunningham both had two hits as well to add to Pellerito's double.
Beasley shined in her debut on the mound, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing just three runs with one strikeout.
Wesleyan is right back at it for their final two games of the season tomorrow, Sunday, April 26th, against Ursuline for Senior Day. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12:00 PM live on FloCollege. The Panthers will celebrate Matheis, Apple, and Pellerito after the conclusion of the second game.
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