WAVERLY, Iowa – Behind strong pitching from sophomore Darren Kilpatrick (Fairfax) and hitting from classmate Parker Ridge (Marion), the Wartburg College Knights baseball team (8-20 overall, 5-10 A-R-C) defeated the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves (6-18, 4-8) 6-0 on Sunday afternoon.
 
In the victorious effort, Kilpatrick went 9-9 in retiring the first batter of each inning, struck out five batters overall and pitched his first career complete game en route to picking up his fourth career win. Ridge led the Knights by going a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a RBI. Junior Tyler Hovick (Roland) went 2-3 at the plate with a RBI, while sophomore Brett Kelting (Wheatland) recorded his first career hit and RBI in his lone pinch hitting opportunity.
 
The Orange and Black started the game with a sac fly by Hovick, which scored sophomore JoJo McNair (Joliet, Ill.) to give the Knights an early 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded at the bottom of the third, the Knights plated their second run of the day when junior Manny Jeffery (Marion) grounded out to first, allowing freshman Jarod Harris (Manchester) to score and extend the lead to 2-0.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Wartburg scored two more runs after a balk by Nebraska Wesleyan's Hayden Parker allowed freshman Ryan Willis (Waverly) to score, followed by the Prairie Wolves' catcher committing an error on an overthrown ball to second base, allowing Ridge to advance home home safely to push the Knights' lead to 4-0.
 
A two-run seventh inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Kelting and Ridge extended the Wartburg lead to 6-0.  Kilpatrick struck out two batters over the eighth and ninth innings to help seal the victory for the Knights.
 
The Knights will return to action on Friday, April 19 when they travel to face Buena Vista University for the first game of a three-game series at 6 p.m.