SOSA Staff Report
CHILLICOTHE — While WKKJ provided the postgame fireworks Tuesday evening, Cole Andrews (Miami) provided the same in between the lines.
Andrews gave the Paints (19-11) an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning and the group never looked back in a 4-1 win over the West Virginia Miners … the team’s fourth straight win.
After Andrews’ RBI single, he scored on a base hit off the bat of Collin Luty (Northern Kentucky). On the same play, Trey Smith (University of Indianapolis) scampered home on an error, putting the Paints up 3-0.
That’s all they’d need to nail down a win, especially with the way starter Zach Kendall (3-0, Rio Grande) was pitching. Kendall threw 6 2/3 innings, surrendering just one earned run on three hits while whiffing seven.
“I had a lot of trust in my defense, knowing they’d back me up,” Kendall said. “I mixed my pitches pretty well and was able to record a good number of strikeouts.”
Austin Calopietro (Toledo) nailed down a save in 2 1/3 innings of work, allowing just one hit.
The Paints’ final run came in the bottom of the sixth when Andrews turned on a 2-2 pitch, sending a solo home run sailing over the wall. The homer was Andrews’ seventh long ball this year. He now has 35 RBIs this summer.
“West Virginia’s pitcher was throwing a lot of off-speed stuff, so I sat on that pitch instead of the fastball,” Andrews said. “I knew I’d get the pitch again and I caught it on the barrel.”
Andrews finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs while Luty finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Ethan Hajdukovic (Western Michigan) was 2-for-3 at the dish and Gavin Homer (Penn State) was 1-for-4 with a double and a run.
Chillicothe will look for its fifth straight win Wednesday evening as they travel to West Virginia for Game 3 of a four-game series. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.
To find news, updates, and more information about the Paints, be sure to visit chillicothepaints.com.