Metro Lex News

Wilder First Career Win; Asbury Uses Perkins Three-Run Blast to Top Kentucky State

A Colton Perkins three-run blast and 2.1 innings of scoreless work from Eli Wilder to gain his first career-win led Asbury over Kentucky State on Tuesday night in Wilmore, Ky., 9-6. 

Perkins has now hit three home runs in his last two games at home with nine RBIs. The blast over the left-center wall came after Kentucky State had scored five straight to tie the game at 5-5, giving Asbury the 8-5 lead they did not let up. 

Junior right handed pitcher Eli Wilder went 2.1 innings to receive his first career win as an Eagle. Wilder gave up one hit and two walks, striking out three in his seven outs. 

Freshman Cayden Devine got the final four outs for AU, coming in with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth for a key strikeout. Devine gave up only one hit and one run with two strikeouts.

Sophomore Quinn Nobles from Nicholasville, Ky., had his second multi-hit game of the year, going 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Senior right hander David Savastio got his second career start for Asbury, his second in two weeks against Kentucky State. The Louisville, Ky., native went 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and no earned runs. 

Asbury got the offense going early with four runs scored in the first, all four getting on base from being hit by a pitch. Quinn Nobles had an infield single in the inning to score Jackson Cole.

A Cam Weaver leadoff double led to an Ethan Cartwright sac fly in the second to add another run for AU, moving them to a 5-0 lead in the second. 

Kentucky State got on the board in the fourth from two Asbury errors and a hit, scoring two runs when Asbury threw a potential double-play ball past the first baseman. KSU continued the momentum in the fifth from a Joseph Esparza solo shot and doubles from Chambers and Johnson to tie the game at 5-5. 

The bottom of the fifth is when Colton Perkins struck with a first pitch three-run blast, stopping Kentucky State's scoring streak to give AU the 8-5 lead they did not let up. 

Asbury's bullpen led by Eli Wilder and Cayden Devine shut the door in the midweek matchup, allowing only one run in the final four innings to give Asbury the 9-6 victory.

AU moves to 4-4 on the year and 3-0 on their home field. 

 TOP PERFORMERS

* Eli Wilder | 2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 0 ER

* David Savastio | 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 K

* Colton Perkins | HR, 4 RBI, BB

* Quinn Nobles | 2-4, R, RBI

 QUOTE

"We came out early and jumped to a 5-0 lead. We took our foot off the gas and allowed them to come back to tie the game. Perk had a huge at-bat that gave us the momentum back and then our bullpen shut the door and got us the win. Huge win after a tough past weekend to get us ready for a big matchup this weekend."

Jackson Cole | Senior IF/RHP 

"Overall it was a great effort by everyone and I'm so grateful I get to contribute to it all and compete alongside my brothers. Now we start looking ahead to the weekend and prepare for a big matchup and get better everyday."

Eli Wilder | Junior RHP 

 KEY STATS

* Asbury pitching left 15 Kentucky State runners on base

* Kentucky State gave Asbury 11 free passes (BB & HBP)

* Colton Perkins hit his third home run in the last two home games

Original source can be found here.