Ninth Inning Shocker Puts Damper on Baseball’s Spring Break Split against Stonehill, 18-0, and Barry, 15-14

Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Brad Scull who struck out 10 batters in seven innings against Stonehill. Photo by Frank Stallworth. May 2, 2017 vs. West Chester.
Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Brad Scull who struck out 10 batters in seven innings against Stonehill. Photo by Frank Stallworth. May 2, 2017 vs. West Chester.

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - - The bats were unstoppable for the Wilmington University baseball team on its first day of Spring Break, but a six-run ninth inning rally ruined what would be a Monday sweep, defeating Stonehill, 18-0, before a shocking loss at Barry, 15-14, at Feinbloom Field.

Crooked numbers littered the line score for the Wildcats (3-3) on Monday, putting up frames of nine and five runs against Stonehill. The Wildcats had the lead at Barry for eight and a half innings, but gave up six runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose a 14-9 lead.

Game One – Stonehill

In the opener, it was a pair of crooked innings that set the Wildcats apart from the Skyhawks. The scoring started in the top of the second inning as Frank Nigro hit a two-out, two-run double to left field, scoring Nick Grant and Brett Nowell.

The Wildcat broke the game wide open in the fourth with a nine-run inning.

With the bases loaded and one out, Christian Adorno started the scoring spree with an RBI single. Kendall Small followed with a two-run single before Max Carney kept the scoring going with an infield single to score Adorno for the 6-0 lead. Now with two outs and the bases loaded, Kyle Fries singled through the left side for two more runs before Nigro brought in another run as the runners beat out a fielder's choice to the shortstop. The scoring ended with a Dakota Graham single through the left side to bring in Fries and Nowell for the 11-0 advantage.

The Wildcats put the game away with five more runs in the sixth inning, getting a big bases clearing, three-run triple to center from Small.

On the other side of the ball, Brad Scull was dealing for the Wildcats. Cruising through the first four innings with six strikeouts. Scull allowed his first base runner in the fifth with a single, but picked up a 4-6-3 double play and another strikeout to leave the bases empty again. He then struck out the side in the sixth inning, going the first seven innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks allowed to improve to 2-0 on the year.

Bryce Carney struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth inning while Tyler Campbell finished the game with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth.

Small went 3-for-7 with a double, a triple, and five RBI while Nigro batted 3-for-6 with a double and four RBI. Carney added three hits with two RBI while Nowell finished 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.

Game Two - Barry

Brooks Ryan got the scoring started for the Wildcats in the top of the second inning, following a pair of walks to a long three-run blast to center field for a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats tacked on single runs in the third and fourth innings before adding on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to grab a 7-4 lead.

The first two runners reached to start the sixth inning for the Wildcats, and Christian Adorno started a four-run inning with an RBI single. Two batters later, Max Carney brought in a run with a sacrifice fly before Nick Grant did the same for the third run of the inning. Ryan collected another hit and another RBI with a single to cap the inning and give the Wildcats an 11-5 lead.

But the Buccaneers retaliated with a four-run inning of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning, climbing back to within 11-9.

A two-out error in the eighth brought in another run for the Wildcats before they added what seemed to be two more insurance runs in the ninth. Brett Nowell singled to score pinch runner Tyler Campbell before Dakota Graham knocked in Nowell with a single to left.

But it wasn't enough for the Wildcats, as the Buccaneers scored six runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the ninth. Reliever Frank Nigro got the first out of the inning before an error sparked the home team. The next three batters all singled while seven straight Buccaneers reached base to tie the game. Zach Frederick picked up a strikeout but the ball got away from the catcher to allow the game-winning run to cross, 15-14.

Graham led the Wildcats by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored while Adorno, Ryan, and Nigro collected two hits each. Nigro was saddled with the loss in the ninth inning.

The Wildcats continue with playing Sunshine State Conference opponents the next two days, starting with a trip to Nova Southeastern on Tuesday night. First pitch in Fort Lauderdale is 6:00 p.m.