LYNDHURST, N.J. - - Felician scored in four straight innings spanning two games, coming back to defeat the Wilmington University baseball team late in game one, 7-4, before starting hot in the nightcap for a 6-1 victory and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division sweep on Friday at Lyndhurst Recreation.
With the sweep, Felician (25-23, 23-7 CACC) won all four games against the Wildcats (25-17, 20-8 CACC) and took a one-game lead for the CACC South Division Regular Season title.
Game One:
The Wildcats got on top first in the opener, scoring twice in the top of the first. With runners on first and third, Kendall Small continued his late season surge with an RBI single to right for the 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Frank Nigro made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Christian Adorno.
The Golden Falcons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, as CACC batting and RBI leader Matt Diesel hit a one-out double down the right field line with a runner on third.
Game one starter Zach Rumford settled in, however, allowing three hits combined from the second inning to the sixth inning.
The offense tacked on a run in the top of the third, as a bases loaded balk brought in Adorno for the 3-1 advantage. Max Carney then put the Wildcats in front, 4-1, in the top of the sixth inning, hitting a bases loaded single down the left field line for an RBI. But Felician limited the damage in the frame, getting an infield fly and a ground out to escape the jam.
Rumford ran into trouble in the second, as the Golden Falcons loaded the bases with two outs on an infield single. Rahul Prince cleared the bases and tied the game with a triple, and put the home team in front as he came home on an error on the play, turning the game around on one play, 5-4.
Felician made some room with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, scoring on an RBI single and a wild pitch to lead, 7-4.
The Wildcats put their leadoff hitters on in the eighth and ninth innings, but neither runner moved off first as each inning ended.
Rumford fell to 5-3 on the year with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) in 6.2 innings. He struck out four while walking two. Kendall Small went 3-for-5 in the game while Max Carney batted 2-for-3. Each hit a double in the opener.
Game Two:
Felician carries the momentum into the nightcap, as the bats continued in the bottom of the first. Three straight singles started the rally for the Golden Falcons before they took the lead on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch. Jason Aponte then cleared the bases with a three-run triple, quickly putting the home team up, 4-0.
The Wildcats responded by loading the bases with one out in the top of the second, but only scored on a Nick Macey sacrifice fly. Felician starter Michael Gutierrez picked up a foul out to end the inning and leave two runners on.
Felician got that run back in the bottom of the second, hitting a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Starting on second, Carlos Bermudez was able to score on the deep fly for the 5-1 lead.
The Wildcats went down in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings before leaving two runners on in the sixth. A double play ended the game in the top of the seventh.
Brad Scull fell to 8-2 on the year with the loss in game two, striking out 11 but allowing six runs on 10 hits. Kendall Small batted 2-for-3 while Brooks Ryan and Dakota Graham added the other two hits for the Wildcats.
Up Next:
The busy week for the Wildcats continues on Saturday, as they return home for another CACC doubleheader. They square off against North Division foe Caldwell at Wilson Field with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.