Bandits and Blue Sox Split Doubleheader as Kennedy Leads Brisbane Early and Sydney’s Fast Start Levels the Series

SYDNEY – The Brisbane Bandits (3-4) and Sydney Blue Sox (4-3) split the doubleheader and round 2 series overall with Brisbane winning game one, 5-2 and Sydney winning the second game 8-1 on Saturday afternoon at Blacktown International Sportspark. 

Jon Kennedy (1–0) set the tone in Game 1, tossing six strong innings in a 5–2 Brisbane win. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks, protecting a lead built gradually by a patient Bandits lineup. Brisbane broke through in the third when Rixon Wingrove lifted a sacrifice fly off Jagger Beck, and Will Riley added another sac fly in the fifth. Two batters later, Robbie Perkins delivered the decisive blow, launching a two-out, two-run homer off Sydney reliever Coen Wynne to extend the lead to 4–0. Perkins finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs, while Sohoo Ham went 3-for-3 and George Callil added two hits and two runs scored. The Bandits totaled nine hits and stole a base through Riley as their balanced offense supported Kennedy’s efficient outing.

Sydney was stifled early and went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position, with its only breakthrough coming in the sixth when Hansel Jimenez drilled a two-run homer with two out. That was the lone mistake from Kennedy, and Tyler Jeans worked a scoreless seventh for his second save. Beck (0–1) allowed two runs over three innings, while Wynne gave up three more in four. Brisbane turned two double plays and stranded three Sydney runners in sealing the win.

The Blue Sox responded in Game 2, overwhelming Brisbane early in an 8–1 victory. Sydney struck for three runs in the first and three more in the second against Bandits starter Kamdyn Perry (0–1), who was charged with six runs—five earned—on six hits in two innings while committing two balks. Jaylin Rae opened the scoring with an RBI groundout before Briley Knight doubled in another run. Knight remained the centerpiece of the Blue Sox attack, tripling home two more in the second and finishing with four RBIs. Jo Stevens added an RBI single to cap Sydney’s six-run outburst through two innings, and an RBI from Jimenez in the third made it 7–0.

Blue Sox starter Ben Ferrer (1–0) kept the Bandits quiet for five shutout innings, allowing four hits with five strikeouts and walking one. Brisbane’s only run came on Noah Barber’s solo homer in the seventh off Ky Jackson, the outfielder’s first ABL hit and home run. The Bandits finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and struck out 13 times.

Sydney continued to pressure Brisbane’s pitchers throughout the night, getting multi-hit games from Knight, Jirvin Morillo and Pablo Nunez, who reached base three times, scored twice and stole a base before being picked off by Brandon Herbold. Rae added a stolen base of his own and drove in a run. The Blue Sox finished 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded just four. Stevens also reached twice and drove in a run as Sydney collected nine hits, including Knight’s double and triple. Anthony Huezo added an RBI double in the eighth off Seung-Hyun Lee for the Blue Sox’ final run.

Despite the early deficit, Brisbane received steady relief from Matt Beattie, Ryo Kohigashi and Herbold, who combined for four scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts before Sydney pushed across its eighth run. Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis closed the door with two scoreless frames to seal the split for Sydney. The Bandits return to Viticon Stadium next weekend with their first matchup against the Perth Heat on Thursday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets online at brisbanebandits.com.au or tune in live on Baseball +.