Not much is better than a walkoff, but the Panthers somehow topped themselves on Tuesday night, as they hit not one, but two walkoffs to take down crosstown rival Brescia at Foster Field. In the opener, Wesleyan scored an incredible six runs in the bottom of the seventh to overcome a five-run deficit to win. In game two, after being down one run in the eighth, Allie Dunn hit a walkoff three-run home run to win the game.
Wesleyan tallied an incredible 34 hits over the course of two games, with 18 coming in game one and 16 in game two. The 18 hits in game one put them in a tie for second all time in a game in KWC history, matching a 2017 contest at Cedarville and a 2007 matchup at Oakland City.
Wesleyan improves to 9-28 (0-8 G-MAC) while Brescia falls to 6-14 (3-7 RSC).
Game One:
The Panthers set the tone early in the opener, as Kennedy Matheis hit a two-run shot to right center in the second inning to open up the scoring. Wesleyan quickly doubled up their lead in the third inning, as Guinny Garr took advantage of a throwing error to score the third run of the game, and MaKenna Page hit an RBI single to score Kennedy Matheis, putting Wesleyan up 4-0.
Wesleyan put runners on base in the middle innings of the game, but couldn’t bring them home. Brescia took advantage, as the Bearcats scored nine unanswered runs to go into the bottom of the seventh leading 9-4. In front of a raukus home crowd, the Panthers knew they had to show out. Guinny Garr and Kennedy Matheis each reached on singles, then MaKenna Page drove in Garr with a single of her own. Sarah Linville joined in on the fun, singling home Matheis and making it just a three-run game. After a fielders choice, Wesleyan was down to their final out, still staring at a 9-6 deficit.
Sydney Saalwaechter picked a good time to get the first hit of her Panther career, as she battle through a full count to get a single and load the bases. Megan Matheis joined in on the fun right after her, hitting a 2-RBI single to make it just a one-run game. Grace Colvin then walked, and thanks to some heads up baserunning by Saalwaechter, Wesleyan tied the game at nine. Guinny Garr then hit the game winning RBI single on the very next at bat to score Megan Matheis and win the game.
All but one Panther recorded a hit in the game, with Megan Matheis and Guinny Garr each going 3-for-5. Kennedy Matheis was also huge, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI’s and three runs scored.
Allie Dunn (6-15) went the distance, striking out four in the win.
Game Two:
The second game of the night nearly follwed the same script as the first, with Wesleyan getting out to a big lead in this one as well. Cousins Megan Matheis and Kennedy Matheis each hit RBI’s in the opening inning to put Wesleyan up 2-0, and Grace Colvin hit an RBI single to put the Panthers up three after one. Yet another Kennedy Matheis RBI helped extend the Panther’s lead in the third, and Grace Colvin added to the fun with an RBI of her own to make it 5-0.
Brescia then had some fun of their own, scoring seven runs over the next three innings to turn a 5-0 deficit into a 7-5 lead. Sarah Linville hit an RBI single in the sixth to tie things up, then Megan Matheis worked the count and got a bases loaded walk to tie the game. Wesleyan loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to bring a runner home, sending the game into extra innings.
Brescia put the pressure on the home team in the eighth, starting the inning off with three straight singles to go up 8-7. With one out on the board, Megan Matheis, Guinny Garr, and Kennedy Matheis all hit singles to load the bases in the bottom of the inning. Grace Colvin hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Megan Matheis and tie the game up at nine. Still feeling fresh after seven innings of pitching and eight in right field, Allie Dunnlaunched a game winning home run over the right centerfield fence on the very next at bat, securing the sweep.
Kennedy Matheis had yet another monster game, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI’s and 3 runs scored. Not to be outdone was Grace Colvin, who went 3-for-3 with a walk and 3 RBI’s. Allie Dunn was also huge, going 2-for-5 with 3 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.
Immi Mann (3-12) went the entire eight innings in the win.
Thanks to cancelation of the Kentucky State series tomorrow, the Panthers won’t be back in action until Friday when they travel Tiffin to face the Dragons. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.
