Wicksburg—The Ariton Purple Cats traveled to Wicksburg to take on the Panthers on Thursday, and the Purple Cats pulled off a big win.
Ariron put together a dominant offensive showing Thursday, powering past Wicksburg’s Varsity Panthers 14 to 4 behind a clutch performance from Easton Kilpatrick, who drove in five runs on two hits.
Kilpatrick delivered the biggest swing of the night in the fifth inning with a triple that cleared the bases and plated three runs. He also added a single in the second inning that brought in another run as Ariton built control of the game early and never looked back.
Ariton struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a defensive miscue that allowed two runs to score. The Purple Cats then extended the lead in the second inning with a steady series of run-producing at-bats. Wells Ganey singled down the right field line, Kilpatrick followed with a single up the middle, Addison Senn doubled down the left field line, and Bryson Rhett added a ground out, with each play bringing home a run to widen the advantage.
The Purple Cats kept the pressure on in the third inning. Brodie Lowery contributed a ground-out RBI, Ganey added another single, and Kilpatrick drove in another run with a ground-out, helping Ariton continue to pull away.
Conner Davidson earned the win on the mound for Ariton after pitching five innings. He allowed nine hits and four runs, three earned, while striking out four and walking one. Seth Williams took the loss for Wicksburg after lasting one and one-third innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on six hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
Ariton finished with 11 hits in the contest. Ganey went 3 for 3 at the plate to lead the Purple Cats, while Senn added two hits in four at-bats. Kilpatrick’s five runs batted in highlighted a balanced offensive attack that saw multiple contributors throughout the lineup. Ariton also turned one double play defensively.
Wicksburg collected nine hits in the game, led by Kolt Dickerson, who went 3 for 3. Christian Morris and Seth Williams each drove in one run, while Jaxon Atwell added two hits in three at-bats.
Ariton will return to action at home on Friday when it hosts Park Crossing.
Special thanks to Ganey Photography for sharing the photos below:
Wells Ganey (#5) slides home, grabbing another run for the Purple Cats.
