MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - - The offensive onslaught continued on Sunday for the Wilmington University baseball team, defeating Southern Connecticut State, 16-2, at the Polo Grounds on the campus of The Ripken Experience, ending the four-game weekend with 56 runs scored.
The 4-0 record is the best start to a season since the Wildcats started 5-0 in the 2014 season. The 2009 squad also went 4-0 to start the year, scoring 27 combined runs. During the team's best start in program history in 2014, the Wildcats scored 34 runs in the team's first five games.
Sunday had a slight detour to the Wildcats' formula for the weekend, as the Owls (3-5) jumped out on top, 2-0, through an inning and a half. Although the bats started slowly, the pitching settled in and gave time for the bats to wake up.
And that they did.
With runners on second and third and two outs in the third, Kendall Small gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead with a two-run single and the Cats never looked back.
Luke Johnson led off the fourth with an opposite field home run before adding two-out RBI triple to cap a three-run inning in the fifth.
Matt Stepnoski launched a two-run homer to left after Darren Donastorg singled to lead off the sixth. Brett Nowell added a two-out RBI single to right center before Brad Scull gave the Wildcats an 11-2 lead with an RBI single.
With two runners on in the seventh, Stepnoski hit his second home run of the game, this time a long drive to center field, giving the Wildcats a 14-2 advantage.
Making sure to have scored in every inning but the first, Brad Scull got into the home run parade in the eighth, blasting a two-run shot to center to cap the scoring at 16-2.
In his first collegiate start, Kyle Maxwell gave up single runs in the top of the first and second innings, but settled in to only allow those two. He struck out three while giving up three hits.
Matt Frost pitched a perfect fifth to earn the win while Rudy Gervolino struck out the side in the sixth. Mike Cottrell pitched a scoreless seventh before Zach Frederick tossed a scoreless seventh. Justin Mears came in and secured the win with a perfect ninth inning.
Matt Stepnoski led the Wildcats by going 3-for-4 with two homers, five RBI, and three runs scored. Eddie Nevins, Brad Scull, and Luke Johnson had two hits each. Brad Scull and Kendall Small finished with three RBI each.
The Wildcats have five days off until they return to action next Saturday, again traveling south to play their games. The team heads to Florida for a week, starting Saturday morning against Stone Hill at Palm Beach Atlantic's home field. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
