Seniors Lead Wilmington Baseball to Sweep of Bloomfield, 9-2 and 7-1, on Senior Day

Seniors Lead Wilmington Baseball to Sweep of Bloomfield, 9-2 and 7-1, on Senior Day

The Wilmington University baseball team had its winning streak stretched to 10 straight games on Saturday, sweeping Bloomfield, 9-2 and 7-1, on Senior Day on Saturday at Wilson Filed to remain unbeaten in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

The Wildcats (24-7, 14-0 CACC) scored runs in bunches in the beginning of each game, jumping out to leads of 3-0 and 2-0 after their first at-bat in each game on Saturday. Bloomfield (3-20, 1-11 CACC) was held to seven total hits on the afternoon, collecting four in the first game and only three in game two.

The team's seniors stepped up on Senior Day as Josh Swirchak tripled in two runs in the bottom of the first in game one to get the scoring started. Matt Lopes followed with a single into centerfield, giving the Wildcats the 3-0 lead early on.

The Bears got to game one starter Jamie Treml in the second, scoring two runs on two hits to pull to within 3-2, but the offense backed up the pitcher by adding a run in the bottom half. Senior Jon Castro squeezed home Mike Annone, who led off the inning with a single up the middle.

Treml then went to work against the Bears, throwing three straight 1-2-3 innings, 10 consecutive outs in all, before giving up a leadoff walk in the sixth. But even then, Treml stranded the runner on second without giving up a hit. He again shut the Bears down in order in the seventh to end his outing. He improved to 5-0 with the win.

The Wildcats added four insurance runs in the home half of the seventh, scoring the first run on a bases loaded balk. Senior Sean Feeney then launched his second homer of the season, going off the scoreboard for a three-run blast. Swirchak capped the scoring in the eighth with another RBI double.

Senior Ryan Douglas tossed a perfect eighth inning before Chris Lopez worked the ninth, only allowing one hit.

The Wildcats were at it again in the early innings in game two, picking up two in the first and one more in the second. Lopes hit a single into right center to score both Castro and Swirchak in the bottom of the first before senior Brendan Fallers scored on a double steal, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

Game two starter Ray Gambone left two runners on in the first before settling into the start, retiring nine straight to get through the first five innings.

The Bears picked up a run in the sixth without a hit, getting a leadoff walk before a sacrifice fly put the visitors on the board. Gambone induced a ground out to leave a runner on in the sixth, ending his outing. He improved to 3-0 on the year with the win.

Senior Rob Gore then left a runner on second in his one inning of work in the seventh before the Wildcats added four runs in the home half of the frame.

Lopes was at it again as he doubled over the head of the right fielder for an RBI before Fenney singled in pinch runner Tory Manfre. An error on sharper grounder by senior Tyler Hawthorne produced another run before Feeney came home on a wild pitch for the fourth run of the inning.

Mike Torres worked a perfect eighth before senior Tyler Fries left a runner on in the ninth before closing out the doubleheader sweep.

Swirchak went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, three RBI, and a run scored in game one while Fenney and Hawthorne each collected two hits. Lopes went 3-for-4 in game two with three RBI while Castro batted 2-for-5 with a run scored in the nightcap.

The Wildcats look to defend their Bill Giles Invitational Championship on Tuesday as they take on West Chester in nonconference action at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.