NEWARK, Del. - - Brendan Fallers raced home in the bottom of the 10th inning, avoiding the tag at the plate as the No. 20 Wilmington University baseball team walked-off with a 7-6 win over visiting West Chester at Wilson Field on Wednesday.
The win is the fifth in a row for the Wildcats (19-4-1 overall) and ninth out of their last 10 games overall. The two teams matched each other run for run throughout the game, as the Wildcats responded with a three-run sixth inning after the Rams (14-11 overall) took a brief 6-3 lead.
With a fresh pitcher on the mound, the Wildcats welcomed Rams' reliever Ron Scull with three straight hits to start the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Brody Tennant singled home Joe Marciano from third, bringing the Wildcats to within 6-4. Now with one out, Frank Samluk picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk, bringing in another reliever for the Rams.
Jon Castro reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in the tying run home. But the Rams recovered nicely on the play, throwing out Tennant at third base as he tried to take another back on the error.
The Wildcats reliever core of Nick Marics, Tyler Fries, Jarrett Shaffer, and Peter Monahan each tossed scoreless innings from the seventh inning on, keeping the Wildcats locked with the Rams, 6-6, after regulation.
Now in the 10th inning, Monahan left a runner on in the top half to give the Wildcats another chance at the plate.
The rally started with a fielding error by the Rams, allowing Matt Lopes to get on base to start the inning. Pinch running, Fallers found himself at third base after a sacrifice bunt and a balk called on the pitcher. Tennant then lofted on to left field to set up the play at the plate.
Challenging the throw, the toss from the Rams' Tyler Coleman beat Fallers to the plate, but the junior was able to throw on the brakes and maneuver around the catcher, touching home without being tagged for the game winning run.
The Wildcats were led by Samluk's 3-for-5 afternoon, hitting a double and knocking in a run. Tennant collected four RBIs on the afternoon, batting 2-for-4. Jon Castro went 1-for-5 but knocked in a pair against the Rams.
Monahan improves to 2-0 on the year, pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Starter Chris Lopez went 3.1 innings, before Tyler Newton tossed the next 2.1 innings. Tim Racek came on in the sixth, striking out a batter to get out of a jam.
The Wildcats are now set to host Concordia on Friday, as another schedule change has happened on the season. The Clippers will now come to New Castle for a doubleheader on Friday, starting at 1 p.m.
