Julian Kurych Hits Walk-Off Double for Wilmington Baseball to Salvage CACC Split with Post

Julian Kurych Hits Walk-Off Double for Wilmington Baseball to Salvage CACC Split with Post

Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of the celebration following Julian Kurych's walk-off double, taken by Frank Stallworth.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A two-out walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning salvaged a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference split for the Wilmington University baseball team, falling 6-2 before taking the nightcap, 2-1, over Post on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Wilson Field.

With the runner taking off from first, freshman Julian Kurych hooked a liner into the right field corner. Pinch runner Brooks Ryan was chased all the way around, sliding in safely with the game-winning run. In the opener, Post 13-27, 7-11 CACC) used a five-run fourth inning to open a 6-0 lead before taking the game, 6-2.

With the split, the Wildcats remain in third place in the CACC with a 10-6 conference record. The Wildcats are tied with Nyack in third place and will later play the Warriors. The Wildcats still have doubleheaders with Nyack and Caldwell in CACC play.

A two-out error in the fourth allowed the Eagles to score four additional runs in the inning, after already scoring on a two-out single. Three straight singles followed the error, giving the Eagles a 6-0 lead after four full innings.

The offense battled back in the fifth, getting an RBI single with the bases loaded from Max Carney to put the Wildcats on the board. Rocky Ferrier followed with a sacrifice fly to bring the Wildcats to within 6-2.

That is as close as the Wildcats would get though, as they left a runner on in the seventh, and two more in the ninth without being able to scratch a run across.

Matt Frost took the lost while allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits in 3.2 innings of work. John Hetterman allowed two unearned runs in 5.0 innings of relieve while Kyle Menchaca got the final out of the top of the ninth.

The combination of Mike Torres, Zach Frederick, and Tyler Newton kept the Eagles off the board through the first 8.2 innings in the nightcap. But in looking to close it out for the 1-0 win, Newton allowed a bloop single over the third baseman with two outs to tie the game, 1-1.

Even with the three pitchers keeping the Eagles off the board until the ninth, the offense couldn't solve Eagle starter Joseph Enderle. The starter only allowed four hits while stranding all three runners. He was helped by getting three double plays in the first three innings to erase two walks and a hit by JR Gregory.

Another double play ended the bottom of the seventh inning for the Wildcats, erasing a runner on first by an error. But the Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the eighth.

Christian Adorno led off the inning and stood on second after an arrant throw from third base. Dan Hyatt moved Adorno to third with a sacrifice bunt, as the Eagles tried to get Adorno on the play.  Now with one out, Nick Macey executed a squeeze play, allowing Adorno to race home for the 1-0 lead.

But the Eagles would respond with their run in the top of the ninth, setting up the walk-off by Kurych in the ninth.

Senior Peter Monahan picked up the win by getting the final out of the ninth inning, striking out his only batter on Senior Day.

The Wildcats head outside of the CACC for a nonconference game at West Chester on Monday. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.