Beloit Junior Legion Bandits split twinbill with Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. — The Beloit Junior Legion Bandits broke a 10-game losing skid with a huge romp over Whitewater, which it split a doubleheader with 10-14, 14-1.

In the first game, the tone of the slugfest was set early as the Bandits plated four runs in the top of the first inning before Whitewater answered with four runs in the second.

Jaxson Walenga hit a sacrifice fly while Austyn Kjendlie and Carter Middleton each added RBI singles as a part of the big opening frame.

Walenga scored on a passed ball to give Beloit the lead back in the third and Middleton added his second run-scoring single of the night to up it to 6-4. Hayden Wells scored on a passed ball later in the inning to give the Bandits a four-run advantage once again.

After Beloit added a run in the fourth, Whitewater exploded for a 10-run fourth inning that featured four singles, a triple, three walks, two hit batters and a pair of errors.

Kayden Tyler scored on an error and Middleton went home on a passed ball n the fifth, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback in the five-inning game.

Beloit (4-10) finished with eight hits, Austin Driver and Middleton each had two, while Tayvon Cates paced the Bandits’ 10-walk effort with two.

Tyler threw a scoreless inning of relief for the Bandits while Driver started and allowed four unearned runs on two hits with four strikeouts in three innings.

Beloit had another big first inning to kick off the nightcap, jumping out to a 5-0 lead.

Driver reached on an error and Cates walked before Willmy Henriquez launched a two-run double into center field. Tyler’s bunt single resulted in an error, and Henriquez scored on a fielder’s throw.

Kjendlie added an RBI single and Middleton hit a sacrifice fly to cap off the frame.

Two Bandits’ runners scored on an error in the third while Middleton stole home to up the lead to 8-0 in the three-run frame.

Tyler hit a one-run double in the fourth and later scored on a passed ball as the Bandits went into the double-digits. Kjendlie also reached home plate on a passed ball and Walenga sent a one-run double into left field to make it 12-0.

Driver’s two-run double later in the fourth increased Beloit’s lead to 14-0 before Whitewater answered with its lone run in the bottom of the frame.

Henriquez and Tyler both had two hits for the Bandits, who racked up seven and drew eight walks.

Tyler and Henriquez nearly combined for a four-inning, no-hitter from the mound. Tyler started and went three innings while striking out two and walking none. Henriquez walked one and allowed an earned run but didn’t allow a hit with three strikeouts in his lone inning.

The Bandits are back in action on Monday as they take on Palmyra at 6 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Sports Complex.

• SENIOR LEGION: No stats were reported as the Senior Legion Bandits defeated Lake Geneva 11-2 on Monday night to improve to 3-4 on the season.