PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A 22-run outburst highlighted the Wilmington University baseball team's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep at USciences on Wednesday, winning 22-1 in the opener before earning the sweep with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap at Richie Asburn Field.
The 22 runs in the opener came on 19 hits with five extra base hits. The Wildcats (14-12, 11-3 CACC) collected 11 more hits in the nightcap and used a three-run seventh inning to secure the doubleheader sweep.
It is the fifth time in program's NCAA history that they have scored 20 or more runs in a game. The last time came in the 2010 season, a 25-0 victory over Lincoln (Pa.).
Game One:
It didn't take long for the Wildcats to get the scoring started, putting three on the board in the top of the first inning.
With runners on the corners and one out, Kendall Small hit a two-run triple to right center, chasing Brooks Ryan from third and Max Carney all the way around from right. Small then came in on an error for the 3-0 lead.
Starter Sean Deely then struck out the side in the bottom of the first, getting all three Devils (5-18, 2-10 CACC) looking to keep the momentum in favor of the Wildcats.
Another leadoff bunt sent the stage for the top of the second as the Wildcats began to widen the gap. With runners on second and third, Christian Adorno singled through the left side for the first run of the inning. Max Carney hit a sacrifice fly and Adorno scored on a first and third play following an error. Frank Nigro gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with an RBI ground out to end the scoring in the second.
The Wildcats tacked on two more in the fourth and four in the fifth, as Small hit a two-run double in the fifth to put the Wildcats up 13-0. The visitors blew the game wide open in the sixth, scoring seven runs on six hits to lead 20-0 after the inning. Brad Scull hit a bases loaded triple to right for three runs while Adorno and Matt Frost added RBI singles in the inning.
Max Carney went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored while Small went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, four RBU and two runs scored. Brooks Ryan, Christian Adorno, Frank Nigro, and Matt Frost all collected two hits with Nigro collecting four RBI in the game.
Starter Sean Deely went seven scoreless innings, striking out eight batters while only allowing four hits and two walks. He improved to 2-2 on the year with the win.
Game Two:
The Wildcats started fast again in the nightcap, but only settled for one run in to the to of the first. The run came with the first batter, as Brooks Ryan is a leadoff home run to right center, putting the Wildcats in front immediately.
Game-two starter Chuck Delagol stranded two Devils on base in the bottom of the second inning and the offense gave him an insurance run in the third.
With two outs and the bases empty, Adorno started a rally with a single to right center. Max Carney walked and Kendall Small singled through the left side, allowing Adorno to race home from second for the 2-0 lead.
The Devils got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a two-out triple to center to scoring a leadoff single. The Devils had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with only one out. Matt Frost came on in relief and induced a short fly ball to right field for the second out, and a fly ball to right center to end the inning.
The Wildcats put the game away in the top of the seventh, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Max Carney then singled to right to score Dakota Graham. Brooks Ryan came home on an error by the first baseman and Carney scored the final run of the game as Small doubles to the gap in right center.
Justin Mears appeared in the bottom of the seventh and went 1-2-3 to end the game and earn the sweep.
Kendall Small went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Brooks Ryan went 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season. Christian Adorno batted 2-for-3 while Nick Grant went 2-for-4 as well.
Chuck Delagol improved to 2-2 on the year after going 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three batters while giving up two walks.
Up Next:
The Wildcats return to CACC action on Friday when they host Chestnut Hill at Wilson Field. They swept the Griffins last Friday in Philadelphia. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.