PRAIRIE HOME - Senior starter Clayton Martin threw a four-hitter and homered twice, including a grand slam, to drive in six runs as the Wildcats pounded the Panthers in three innings Tuesday night.
New Bloomfield (3-12) trailed 3-1 after one inning, but Martin's grand slam helped fuel an 11-run outburst in the second to put the Wildcats in control. Martin also launched a two-run homer in the third as New Bloomfield erupted for eight runs.
Martin finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored as the Wildcats amassed 12 hits. Freshman shortstop Lucas Buscher was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and scored three times, while freshman third baseman Ashton Schuster also went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and a run scored.
Senior designated hitter Luke Nadler finished 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI and scored three runs.
"We talked about being aggressive at the plate and we were able to do that," New Bloomfield head coach Justin Forsythe said. "We worked counts in our favor and made them throw strikes."
Martin (2-3) issued three walks and struck out two. All four of Prairie Home's runs were earned.
"Once he got the lead, Clayton did his job," Forsythe said. "He threw a lot of strikes and used his defense behind him."
New Bloomfield hosts Calvary Lutheran at 5 p.m. Monday.