Wildcat Home Runs Bomb Timberwolves

Josh Baker and Tommy Pennington hit back to back homeruns to lead the baseball team past Living Word Lutheran 7-5 in a Midwest Classic Conference North game in Jackson Tuesday afternoon.

The two USM seniors hit their homeruns in the top of the fifth inning and dramatically changed the course of the game.  At the time Living Word Lutheran was leading 2-1, and the Timberwolves’ sophomore pitcher John Winter was holding the Wildcats in check.  The homers gave USM the lead, and the Wildcats held it.

“Those two were bombs,” said USM’s head coach Tim Bartz.  “They helped everyone relax and play our kind of baseball.”

USM took an early lead with a run in the first.  With one out, Jack Wells hit a grounder up the middle for a single.  Baker followed with a single to center.  The center fielder bumbled the ball, allowing Wells and Baker to advance to second and third.  Wells then raced home on a ground out by Pennington.

Living Word Lutheran took the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third.  With two out, sophomore Kurt Janetzke walked.  He took second on a wild pitch and scored on junior Cam Olson’s single.  Olson went to second on the throw.  He then went to third on a passed ball and scored when senior Ben Rennicke reached on an error.  Rennicke stole second and went to third on senior Jake Wunder’s single.  USM’s starting pitcher, junior Billy Lawton, struck out senior Colin Dorn to limit the Timberwolves’ threat.

USM recovered in the top of the fifth.  As he had done in the first, Wells started the rally by reaching on an infield single with two out.  Baker’s homer to right and Pennington’s homer to left on the very next pitch stunned the home crowd and put USM ahead, 4-2.

The Wildcats pushed across another run in the next inning.  Senior Nathan Burke led off with a single. Sophomore Duncan Brown’s sacrifice bunt got Burke to second.  Burke went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield error.

The Timberwolves made it a one-run game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Rennicke led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Pennington Wunder then walked but Brown threw him out trying to steal second.  Dorn then singled to drive in Rennicke, but Pennington, who had come on in relief for Lawton earlier in the inning, picked Dorn off first with a beautiful throw to Baker’s glove at the bag.  Winter then walked and scored on senior Ben Werner’s triple to deep right center.

The Wildcats had regained their confidence in the fifth, and it helped them score two more runs in the top of the final inning.  Once again Wells started the commotion with another infield single.  He went to second on a wild pitch. Baker then drilled a shot threw the legs of the first baseman, Dorn, to drive in Wells.  Baker took second on the throw.  Living Word Lutheran intentionally walked the dangerous Pennington.  He and Baker advanced a base on a wild pitch.  Burke then singled to left to drive in Baker and make the score 7-4.

 The Timberwolves wouldn’t surrender, and they scored once more in their last at bats. With Burke in to close the game, Janetzke walked with one out.  Burke got Olson to hit a foul ball down the right field line.  Baker turned and chased it. Like a wide receiver for the Packers, Baker made an over-the-shoulder catch for the second out.  Rennicke was then hit by a pitch, and Janetzke went to second.  Wunder singled to drive in Janetske.  Burke ended the threat by getting Dorn to hit a grounder to short.

In the game Lawton was the winning pitcher.  He struck out 6 Timberwolves in 5 innings of work.  Burke got the save for USM.  Winter went all the way for Living Word Lutheran and took the loss. At the plate, Wells was 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored.  Baker was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a homerun.  Pennington was 1 for 3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored on his homerun.  Burke was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.

Living Word Lutheran’s record is now 5-10 and 3-7 in the conference.  USM’s record is 16-0 and 11-0 in the conference.   The Wildcats and the Timberwolves face each other again at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at USM.