BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - - A program breaking 24-hit barrage in game two salvaged a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference split for the Wilmington University baseball team, as Concordia won the opener, 6-4, before the visitors came back with a vengeance in a 22-2 victory in the nightcap at the Clipper Baseball Field.
The Wildcats (16-14, 13-5 CACC) lost another late inning lead in the opener, allowing a four-run eighth inning as the Clippers (14-15, 10-6 CACC) came back to steal game one. The Wildcats came back and scored in every inning but the eighth in the nightcap, breaking a program record with 24 base hits in game two.
The hits record was set twice, first on April 11, 2007 with 23 hits against USciences and again four years ago to the day with 23 hits at USciences.
Game One:
The Wildcats held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Clippers scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to claim the 6-4 victory.
The Wildcats only collected three hits in the opener, but used eight walks to their advantage in the early going.
The first three batters walked to lead off the game for the Wildcats, but the Clippers were able to limit the damage in the inning as Kendall Small hit into a double play. A run came on to score for the Wildcats, but the Clippers got out of the jam with another ground ball to end the inning.
The Clippers answered in the bottom of the first with a two-out single through the right side, tying the game, 1-1.
The Wildcats again loaded the bases with no outs in the third, and took the lead with a Frank Nigro single to right. But The Clippers induced another ground ball double play to break up the momentum, only allowing the Wildcats to score two in the frame. The Wildcats tacked on another in the fourth, aided by another leadoff walk. Christian Adorno eventually brought in Nick Macey with a sacrifice fly, giving the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.
Starter Zach Rumford set down 11 straight Clippers after the RBI single in the first. But the Clippers broke it up with a homer down the right field line, cutting the lead to 4-2. Rumford worked around a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't do the same in the bottom of the eighth.
With two outs and the bases empty, the Clippers hit back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases before a hit-by-pitch brought in a run. Tyler Campbell spelled Rumford but walked in the inning's second run, tying the game, 4-4. Justin Mears came on to pitch, but the Clippers picked a two-run single before the inning was finally over, taking the lead, 6-4.
Nick Macey started the top of the ninth with a single, but he was left at first as the Clippers set the next three Wildcats down to end the game.
Rumford struck out 12 Clippers, but fell to 3-2 on the year with the tough loss. He allowed six runs on eight hits with one walk. Kendall Small, Frank Nigro, and Nick Macey accounted for the three Wildcat hits.
Game Two:
The frustrations of not hitting in game one billowed over into the nightcap, as the Wildcats scorched the Clippers with 222 runs on 24 hits. They scored runs in all but the eighth innings, including multiple runs in six of their nine at-bats.
Max Carney opened the scoring with a three-run long ball to right in the top of the first, hitting his third home run of the year for the quick 3-0 lead.
Nick Grant homered in the top of the second inning, capping a six-run, five hit frame for the Wildcats. Dakota Graham, Brooks Ryan, and Carney all collected RBI hits in the inning before Grant tagged his first homer of the year to center to give the Wildcats a 9-0 lead.
Four more runs crossed the plate in the third as Christian Adorno doubled to right and Carney added two more RBI with a single up the middle. Frank Nigro legged out an infield single to score Carney, bringing the score to 13-0 after three at-bats.
Dakota Graham doubled in two runs in the top of the fifth and Frank Nigro hit another RBI single in the sixth for the 17-2 advantage.
Zach Rumford hit an RBI single in the seventh before Sean Deely capped the scoring in a big way in the ninth, hitting a three-run bomb to right, bringing the Wildcats to a 22-2 lead.
Brad Scull went the first seven innings for the Wildcats, allowing two runs on 10 hits, striking out five batters while now giving up a walk. Zach Frederick pitched the final two innings, striking out four while not allowing a hit to cap the victory.
Brooks Ryan, Max Carney, Kendall Small, Frank Nigro, and Nick Macey all collected three hits in the nightcap, with Carney leading all batters with six RBI.
Up Next:
The Wildcats are scheduled to play Dominican on Sunday in a rescheduled doubleheader. Rain is expected in the area on Sunday, so stay tuned to athletics.wilmu.edu for all of the Wildcats' updates. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Wilson Field.