Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo by Frank Stallworth.
FLUSHING, N.Y. - - Three errors allowed two runs to come home in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Wilmington University baseball team dropped another late game decision, 5-4, at Queens on Wednesday night at Hennekens Stadium.
The Wildcats (15-25) lead 4-0 after three and a half innings before the Knights (17-22) got back into the ballgame with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Knights then came all the way back to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring two runs with only one hit, but aided by three errors.
The visitors got off to a great start in the top of the first inning, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Max Carney sparked the inning with a leadoff walk, and was standing on third after an error on the pitcher. Jesse long followed with a sacrifice fly for the quick 1-0 lead. Kendall Small restarted a rally with a single to right center before Brooks Ryan followed with a walk. Now with runners on second and third with two outs, Christian Adorno added to the Wildcats' lead with a two-run single to right center.
The Wildcats went with a new pitcher every inning, as Zach Rumford and Mike Torres struck out two batters each in their scoreless frames. John Hetterman went 1-2-3 in the third to bring the offense back up to the plate.
Adorno was at it again in the fourth, leading off the inning with a double to left. The junior than stole third base before Rocky Ferrier brought him home for the 4-0 lead with a single to right.
The Knights retaliated in the bottom of the fourth however, as a one-out double brought home a home and a two-out single to left scored two more off Matt Frost. The Wildcats held a 4-3 lead after four innings.
Rudy Gervolino struck out a batter in a scoreless fifth before Peter Monahan struck out a pair in another scoreless sixth inning. Kyle Menchaca made it three straight scoreless innings with a 1-2-3 seventh inning before the Knights bounced back in the eighth.
Brad Scull struck out the first batter of the inning before a walk and back-to-back infield errors loaded the bases. The lone single of the inning scored the game tying run before another error in the infield scored the go-ahead run. Noah Latshaw came on and induced a grounder to get out of the inning.
The Wildcats were unable to get anything going in the top of the ninth, as they went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Small and Adorno each went 2-for-4 in the game with Adorno leading the team with two RBI. Scull was saddled with the loss in allowing the two unearned run, falling to 0-4 on the season.
The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action for one more regular season doubleheader on Friday, as they head to Nyack looking to capture a First Round bye in the CACC Tournament. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Provident Bank Park in Pomona, New York.