By Chris Colwell

METAMORA, IL - Beautiful Al Mulberry Field in Metamora was the setting for a Mid Illini Conference clash between the rivals Washington and Metamora.

Washington was looking to leapfrog both Limestone and Morton for the conference lead with Metamora trying to keep pace at 2 ½ games back.

Washington unsigned senior LHP Charlie Ludolph was the star of the night. After a shaky first inning, Ludolph scattered 6 hits with only 1 walk, 10 strikeouts and no earned runs in a complete-game effort, leading Washington to a 7-4 victory Wednesday night.

Sophomore 2B Casey Danley paced the offense both with his bat and his legs. Danley finished with 2 doubles, 3 RBI and a hustle play for a key insurance run in the seventh.

In the first inning, it looked like it was going to be Metamora’s night.  Metamora starting senior RHP Andrew Christensen escaped a bases loaded one-out jam by inducing the old 1-2-3 double play. Then in the Metamora half of the first, Bradley recruit Spencer Gaa led off with a single. Dylan Mullins followed with a sacrifice bunt, which turned into an error, giving Metamora second and third with no outs. After back-to-back strikeouts, senior RF Adam Bowers followed with a two-run double and Christensen helped himself with another RBI double, giving the Redbirds the early 3-0 lead.

The Panthers struck back in their half of the second. A single, an error, a sacrifice bunt and a walk loaded the bases with one out, setting the stage for Danley’s two-run double, cutting the lead to one. Senior Dakota Bullard followed with a two-run single next, giving Washington the 4-3 lead. A 2 out error in the fourth allowed another run for Washington and a 5-3 lead.

Metamora scored their fourth unearned run in the sixth on a two-out double by Junior David Gualandri, scoring Bowers, who reached on an error, making it 5-4.

Washington pulled away in the seventh with a one-out triple by sophomore Hayden Bodine, followed by Danley’s third RBI of the night with his second double. Danley then scored on his hustle play, by digging for third on a drop third strike to Bullard,  forcing a bad throw from the first baseman—and giving Washington the three-run cushion.