BOCA RATON, Fla. - - The Wilmington University baseball team got the bats going early in a doubleheader sweep of Stonehill, starting its Florida trip with identical 7-3 victories on Monday afternoon at Lynn University.
Playing a pair of seven-inning contests, the Wildcats (4-2) jumped out in front early in each game to give them the edge. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the first in game one before scoring four in the top of the first in game two. The team collected double digit hits in each game to kickstart its week.
Rocky Ferrier was the catalyst for the Wildcats in each of the first innings, starting game one with an infield single to the right side. Mike Annone put two runners on with one out before Julian Kurych smacked a double to the gap in right center for the game's first run. An error brought in the next run before Frank Nigro singled to shallow center to quickly put the Wildcats up, 3-0.
Starting pitcher Sean Dealy's only blemish was a leadoff home run to the opposite field in the fourth inning, as he struck out four in four innings with only five hits. The Wildcats would get that run back and more in the bottom of the inning.
Max Carney tucked one inside the first base line and into the corner for a two-run double before Kurych came through again with an RBI single. Kendall Small finished the scoring for the Wildcats with a double to the gap in right center, allowing Kurych to trot home.
The Skyhawks made things interesting in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs before getting a single through the left side. Stonehill brought the tying run to the plate but Noah Latshaw induced a foul out to end the game and earn the save.
Kurych went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Ferrier finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Deely earned his first win as a Wildcat while Latshaw picked up his first save.
Ferrier was the catalyst in the first inning of game two as well, opening the game with a triple into the right field corner. Carney quickly put the Wildcats ahead with an RBI single. With runners on first and third, Kurcyh added another RBI with a groundout before Small made it 3-0 with single through the right side. Now with two outs, Nick Macey took a pitch back up the middle to score Small and give the Wildcats the 4-0 advantage.
Game two starter Chuck Delagol went to work against the Skyhawks and tossed four scoreless innings while only allowing two hits and striking out three batters. He was able to turn the ball over to Zach Rumford with a 7-0 lead. Logan Gilbert laced a ground back through the box and off the pitcher, bringing in a run in the third inning before the Wildcats added two more runs in the fourth with the bases loaded.
Rumford set the Skyhawks down in order in the fifth and sixth innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh. After picking up the first two outs of the inning, Rumford allowed a double, a single, a triple, and another double, giving the Skyhawks three runs. He buckled down and induced an infield popup to end the game.
Annone, Macey, and Logan Gilbert collected two hits each in the game while Kurych and Small led the way with two RBI each. Delagol picked up the win while Rumford earned the three-inning save.
The Wildcats return to Lynn University on Tuesday to face the host team to continue their Florida trip. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
