KITCHENER - Heating up.

The Barrie Baycats defeated the Kitchener Panthers 7-2 in game one of today's doubleheader and 8-3 in game two of today's doubleheader to improve to 10-10 on the season.

With a pair of losses today, the slumping Panthers fall to 10-8.

Game one

In game one, Baycats ace Juan Benitez recorded the win, tossing a complete game while allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two bases on balls.

Benitez, who threw his first complete game of the season today, struck out a pair of Panthers batters.

Baycats left fielder Jake MacDonald led the way at the plate, going one-for-three with a home run.

His sixth-inning home run was his first career Intercounty Baseball League [IBL] home run.

Panthers starting pitcher Christian Hauck took the loss, tossing just four innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits and two bases on balls.

Hauck, who has pitched very well against the Baycats in the past, struck out a pair of batters in game one.

BARRIE - 7-7-0

KITCHENER 2-7-0

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME...

Up 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning, there is no question that MacDonald's two-run bomb was a game-ender for the Panthers in game one.

BY THE NUMBERS...

0. The Baycats made zero errors defensively in game one.

1. Baycats right fielder Avery Tuck hit his first career IBL home run in the top of the seventh inning.

3. Struggling to begin this season with his bat, Baycats third basemen Darius Barlas reached base in all three plate appearances in game one, reaching on a base hit, walk, and hit by pitch respectively.

Game Two

In game two, Baycats starting pitcher Evan Soules recorded the win, tossing three and two-thirds of an inning while allowing two earned runs on three hits and three bases on balls.

The Stayner, Ontario native struck out a pair of Panthers batters.

MacDonald stayed hot with the bat in game two, going two-for-four with a two-run double in the top of the fifth inning.

Panthers starting pitcher Stephen Gade took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two bases on balls in four innings pitched.

The now four-year Panther struck out four Baycats' batters.

BARRIE - 8-10-1

KITCHENER - 3-4-1

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME...

Up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers struck for three runs, only for MacDonald to get two of those runs back in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-run double to opposite field.

BY THE NUMBERS...

1. Baycats second basemen Mike Duwyn hit his first career IBL home run in the top of the second inning in game two.

2. The Baycats went back-to-back for the first time this season, as Duwyn's home run was followed up by Baycats centre fielder Jake Wilson hitting his third home run of the season.

2. For the first time this season, the Baycats fielded the same lineup for back-to-back games. Those back-to-back games just happened to come today in the doubleheader.

4. The Baycats have now won four games in a row, which is their longest winning streak of the season. Previously, their longest win streak of the season was three games, from July 15 to July 21.

14. A shoutout is in order for Baycats catcher James Anderson, who caught all 14 innings in today's doubleheader.

.500. The Baycats are back to .500 for the first time since the afternoon of July 25. That day, they lost both games of their doubleheader to the London Majors and fell to 3-4 on the season. They were 3-3 (.500) in between games of their doubleheader that afternoon.

NEWS FROM THE DOUBLEHEADER...

- With today's doubleheader sweep of the Panthers, the red-hot Baycats are now tied with the 10-10 Welland Jackfish for third place in the IBL. Prior to this four-game win streak, the Baycats had spent most of this season at the bottom of the league standings with the Brantford Red Sox.

NEXT UP...

The Baycats travel to Toronto on Wednesday to battle the Toronto Maple Leafs, who they are 3-0 against this season.

For more information, follow the Baycats on Facebook and Twitter at @iblbaycats, on Instagram at @barriebaycats, and on Youtube at Barrie Baycats TV.

And remember to shop at our online shop by clicking here.

Lastly, remember that you can buy tickets to all of our home games here.

Photo: Bob Hurley/Bob Hurley Photography