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Wesley Splits with Stevenson
ABERDEEN, Md. - Wesley split a pair of one-run games with conference rival Stevenson. The Mustangs used a three run seventh to comeback in the opener, but a strong pitching performance by a trio of Wolverines earned Wesley an 11-inning win in game two.
In the opener, the Wolverines (4-4, 1-1 CAC) jumped on Stevenson (8-2, 3-2 CAC) with a four-run first inning. A bases loaded double by Geoff Kimmel (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) started the rally that also included a sacrifice fly by Bryan Reshetar (Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) and an RBI single by Tyler Burns (Dover, Del./Dover).
The Mustangs answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning and another in the fourth to trim Wesley's lead to 4-3. The Wolverines answered in the fifth, however, with another RBI apiece by Kimmel and Burns to stretch the cushion back to three runs at 6-3.
Things came apart for Wesley in the bottom of the seventh, as Stevenson pieced together a comeback behind an error, three singles, a walk and a balk before a walk-off sacrifice fly by Jeff Bihy gave the Mustangs the win, 7-6.
Kimmel had two hits and drove in three runs for Wesley. Rob Benedict (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) turned in his fifth multi-hit game of the year, as well.
D.J. Keckler (Fallston, Md./Fallston) took the loss.
Benedict's defense preserved the win in the nightcap, gunning down Stevenson's Brandon Krochune at home on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Wesley had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the 11th. Greg McKee (Dover, Del./Caesar Rodney) gave way to a pinch runner after a lead off double. The pinch runner, Jake Dunn (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn), moved to third on a bunt single by Steven Jacobs (Aston, Pa./Garnet Valley) and then scored on a wild pitch by Derrick Nason.
After each team scored once in the first inning, both pitching staffs shut down the opposition for the next nine innings.
Michael Bazoge (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Kyle McGuire (Hartly, Del./Polytech) and Matt Faulkner (Milford, Del./Milford) combined on a six-hitter for the Wolverines. Bazoge picked up the start and went six innings, scattering a run on four hits and three walks, while striking out two. McGuire went the next three innings, allowing just a hit and a walk against a pair of strike outs. Faulkner picked up his second win of the year pitching the final two innings. The sophomore gave up a hit and struck out a batter.
James Castellano allowed five hits, an unearned run, and three walks in six innings for Stevenson. Nason went the next 4.1 innings and scattered three hits and three walks before running into trouble in the 11th. Brian Spinazzola tossed 0.2 to finish the game.
Wesley's first inning run came home on a passed ball that brought home Kevin Murphy (Middletown, Md./Middletown). In the bottom of the inning, Stevenson answered with a home run by Justin Anderson.
Kimmel, Burns and McKee all doubled for Wesley, while Kimmel and Murphy collected two hits apiece.
The Wolverines are back in action on March 10 at York (Pa.).
