TUCSON, Ariz. – Playing its first afternoon game of the spring trip in the 90 degree Arizona heat, the Kalamazoo College baseball team's bats got hot like the weather and combined for 14 hits on the way to a 12-9 win over Carthage College Saturday.
It didn't take long for K to break the deadlock in the top of the first when Jack Clark drilled a three-run shot over the left field wall giving the Hornets a 3-0 lead. The home run was Clark's first of the season.
Scoring in droves, the Hornets tacked on three runs in the second lifted by a two-run single from Mitch VanKoevering, three runs in the fifth highlighted by a two-run single from Ryan Orr and two runs in the 8th.
Ian Kobernick knocked in an insurance run when he tripled on a deep fly ball off the left field wall scoring Orr.
Jordan Wiley continued to serve as a catalyst at the top of the Hornets order reaching base in all six plate appearances and stealing four bases. He leads the team with 13 stolen bags.
In the heart of the Hornets' order, the four batters following Wiley combined to go 9-for-22 with nine RBI and seven runs scored. Orr and Clark each led with three RBI apiece.
Earning the win for Kalamazoo was Ryan Franklin who provided 2 2/3 innings of effective relief. Scott Zychowski earned his third save of the season.
Now 5-1 on the season, the Hornets will take Sunday off before taking on Buena Vista on Monday at 2 p.m. MST.