Facing Malone looking to continue their quest for a conference tournament birth, the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers got the job done on Friday, taking down the Pioneers by scores of 4-1 and 13-6.
KWC moves to 13-21 (11-7 G-MAC) while Malone falls to 13-21 (4-13 G-MAC).
Game One
All it takes is one swing to change a game, and Sammy Rowan did just that. In a game dominated by pitching, Rowan hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to put the panthers up 3-0 midway through the game. Thanks to a dominant pitching performance by Seth Wright, KWC’s insurance run from Robert Chayka wasn’t needed and they took the opener 4-1.
Robert Chayka went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sammy Rowan led with three RBI’s.
Seth Wright (3-3) struck out seven and allowed just one run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. Ike Speiser came in to nab his fourth save of the year.
Game Two
KWC scored two of their three runs thanks to Malone wild pitches, with the other run coming off a solo bomb from Landon Moberly. Kyle Werries hit a two-run home run in the third to put Wesleyan up 5-1, and they continued to pout it on in the fourth, going up 8-1 on a 2 RBI single from Hunter Combs and a Cade Gudalis RBI.
Two more RBI’s from Chayka and RBI’s from Hunter Combs and Reece Puckett sealed the win for the good guys.
Robert Chayka was on fire in game two, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI’s and three runs scored. Combs went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI’s and two runs scored, while Kyle Werries joined in with 2 RBI’s and a run scored.
Brayden Bush (1-7) struck out 9 in just 4.2 innings of work to pick up the win.
Wesleyan will be back at it tomorrow when they face Malone to close out their series. First pitch is set for noon.
