Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Bucs scored in every inning of a 12-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan Sunday afternoon, but the visitors rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh in game two to blow open what had been a pitchers' duel and win 8-1 in the Bucs' final tuneup before opening Gulf South Conference play.

In the opener, the Bucs (4-7) pounced in the bottom of the first inning, using two singles, two walks, and a wild pitch to push a pair of runs across. In the second inning, Charles Kelly (Bartlett, Tenn./Bartlett HS) bounced a single up the middle to start the inning. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with one out, and a Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School) single and a sacrifice fly gave the Bucs a 4-0 edge. They tacked on three more in the third inning in a two-out rally sparked by another Kelly single. A walk kept the inning alive, and singles by Jarrett Jenkins (Ridgeland, Miss./Ridgeland HS) and Josh Hopkins (Olive Branch, Miss./Southern Baptist Educational Center) brought a run in. A bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch gave the Bucs a 7-0 lead in the seven-inning game.

Caleb Goodwin (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) hit a two-run single in the fifth inning after singles by Jordan Wilson (Arlington, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy), Charles Armour (Brighton, Tenn./Brighton HS), and Kelly loaded the bases with one out. The Panthers (2-2) finally scored in the fifth inning on a double, an error, and a sacrifice fly. After Armour's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Panthers scored three runs on two singles, two walks, and an error in the sixth inning. Goodwin walked and scored in the sixth for the Bucs, and back-to-back doubles by Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School) and Braden Keathley (Henderson, Nev./Silverado HS) scored another run to set the final margin.

The Bucs season-high 12 runs came on 14 hits and seven walks. Kelly went 3-for-4 with two runs, while Josh Hopkins (Olive Branch, Miss./Southern Baptist Educational Center), Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School), and Armour collected two hits each. Jenkins, Will Wilson, Kelly, and Goodwin scored two runs each, and Will Wilson, Keathley, and Goodwin drove in two runs each.  Mac Cooley (Bartlett, Tenn./Horn Lake HS) earned the win, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits and three walks over five and a third innings. Jake Porter (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Mount Juliet HS) tossed an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

In the second game, the pitchers dominated early as both CBU starter Jake Garbuzinski (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) and KWC starter Chaz Simpson carried no-hitters into the fourth inning. Garbuzinski retired 15 of the first 16 he faced through five innings, while Simpson only surrendered a single and a walk over the first five. The bats woke up in the sixth inning on both sides, however.

With one out, KWC's Sean Embry doubled down the right field line, and they put a second runner on base with a two-out walk. Ray Delvalle hit a long fly ball to center, which Jenkins appeared to catch as he dived into the fence, but the ball came out after he hit the fence for a two-run double. The Bucs would answer in the bottom of the frame, starting the inning with back-to-back singles from Goodwin and Jenkins. A Hopkins sacrifice bunt put them on second and third for Will Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School), who hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Goodwin. Jenkins tried to score from second when the throw home went to the backstop, but he was tagged out to end the inning.

The Panthers put it out of reach in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on a homer, a double, five singles, and a walk. Simpson retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to protect the victory.

The Bucs mustered just three hits against Simpson, who struck out eight. Garbuzinski (0-3) took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk in six and a third innings.

The Bucs return to action next weekend when they visit West Georgia for their first GSC series. Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start, with Sunday's single game slated for a noon first pitch. The Bucs' next home game is Tuesday, March 5, against Central Baptist at 1 p.m.