Panthers sweep Cards, move closer to second place

Photo By Dan Congdon

KITCHENER -- The Kitchener Panthers tightened their grip on second place in the IBL after sweeping the Hamilton Cardinals in a doubleheader Thursday night. 

Carter Arbuthnot's bases-loaded walk scored Keegan Marsden for a walk-off 6-5 Game 1 win. Kitchener scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, with Liam Wilson's one-out double bringing home Andy Leader to tie the game. Wilson added another double and home run and drove in three, while Stephen Whalen singled three times and drove in a run. Dreyden Sloat had the other RBI. 

David Bruinsma (1-0) earned the win on the mound, striking out one and walking one in a scoreless seventh. Luis Grisanti started and allowed five runs on five hits over two innings. He struck out one and didn't issue a walk. 

Justin Gideon led Hamilton with three hits, including his fifth home run -- a solo shot on the game's second pitch. Brandon Nieva went 3-for-4, while Jeremie Veilleux and Ryan Burnside each drove in a run. 

Ryan Clark (0-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout in 1.2 innings of relief. Starter Clay Miller went five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He walked two and fanned four. 

In Game 2, Blake Jacklin went 3-for-3 with an RBI, run and stolen base atop the Panthers lineup. Wilson drove in the other run. 

Jorden Carthy (1-1) picked up the win, striking out three while walking two and giving up a hit in 1.2 innings of relief. Brady Schnarr tossed two scoreless innings for his second save, and starter Ryan Douglas threw a clean first inning with a strikeout.

Miller (0-2) took the loss for the Cards, giving up a run on one hit without registering an out. 

Ryan Freemantle and Connor Bowie drove in Hamilton's runs. 

Kitchener (15-12) leads Toronto by 1.5 games for second in the league. Sixth-place Hamilton fell to 11-16.