Copryigth 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Christian Adorno's triple against American International.
BOCA RATON, Fla. - - The bats started to come alive on Tuesday afternoon as the Wilmington University baseball team split a pair of games at Lynn University, falling to Stonehill, 7-3, before defeating American International, 9-7, on day two of the team's Florida Trip.
Both starters pitched well for the Wildcats (2-5) and accumulated a lot of strikeouts, but the offensive didn't back up the pitching staff until the nightcap against AIC. Chuck Delagol struck out nine Stonehill batters in 5.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. John Hetterman struck out seven AIC batters in 4.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs on four hits.
In the day's first game against Stonehill, the Wildcats fell behind, 5-0, before getting on the board. The Wildcats answered a three-run inning with a two-run bottom of the seventh. Brooks Ryan did all the damage with two outs in the inning, hitting a double over the head of the right fielder to score Dan Hyatt and Rocky Ferrier.
But the Skyhawks continued to tack on runs late in the game to put the Wildcats away, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Julian Kurych led the Wildcats by going 2-for-4 with a run scored in the game while Ryan had two RBI. Ferrier also went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
A solo shot in the second inning of the nightcap put the Wildcats behind again, but the offense came to life in the fourth inning with a four-run frame.
The Wildcats loaded the bases without recording an out and the Yellow Jackets nearly got out of the jam on a double play ball. A comebacker to the mound had the play set up, but Christian Adorno beat the throw to second, allowing a run to score. A failed pick off attempt at second brought in the go-ahead run for the Wildcats before Ryan singled through the right side to score Adorno for the 3-1 lead. With Ryan on second, Jesse Long singled through the right side and Ryan beat the throw home for the 4-1 advantage.
A double in the fifth gave the Yellow Jackets another run, but the Wildcats answered with two more in the home half. With two outs and the bases empty, Max Carney doubled to right, followed by an Adorno triple to the wall in left center. Ferrier followed suit with another double to right, giving the Wildcats a 6-2 lead.
Matt Frost struck out three batters in relief but ran into trouble in the seventh, as the Yellow Jackets added three runs on a pair of hits to close the gap to 6-5.
But again, the Wildcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting a two-run double from Kendall Small and a sacrifice fly from Hyatt.
Kyle Menchaca ran into trouble in the top of the ninth, allowing two runs on three hits but induced a pop up to Adorno at shortstop for the final out of the game.
Long paced the offense with three hits and an RBI while Adorno, Ferrier, and Small added two hits each. Frost picked up the win in 2.1 innings of relief while Peter Monahan also struck out three batters in 1.1 innings of work.
The Wildcats travel back to Lynn to take on the Fighting Knights on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
