MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - - After taking the lead in the top of the seventh, the 21st ranked Wilmington University baseball team couldn't hold off Barry, as the Sunshine State foes took the 12-9 victory on Tuesday night Feinbloom Field.
The Wildcats (5-3) scored four runs in the sixth and three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 9-8 lead, but the Buccaneers battled right back with a four spot in the bottom of the seventh to take the nonconference contest.
Kendall Small remained red hot to start the season, coming up with an RBI single in the top of the first. But Barry fought back to tie the game in the home half of the first with a two-out RBI single.
Brooke Ryan started the top of the second off with an opposite field home run, giving the Wildcats the lead once more, 2-1. WilmU starter Kyle Maxwell left a pair of runners on in the second, and retired the side in order in the third before the Buccaneers struck in the fourth.
A leadoff double would come around to score, as Barry picked up another two-out RBI with a single into right center, tying the game, 2-2.
Barry would open the scoring and take a big lead with a six-run fifth inning. Another leadoff double would score for the Bucs, but the big damage was a two-out, three-run double to center. At the fifth inning, the home team led 8-2.
The Wildcats answered back quickly however, scoring four runs in the top of the sixth. Two walks and a single started the inning, loading the bases with no outs. Frank Nigro brought in a pair with a two-run single while Darren Donastorg followed suit with another two-run single, bringing the Wildcats to within 8-6.
Small started the top of the seventh off with a single and the Wildcats had runners on second and third with one out. Luke Johnson brought both runners in with a single up the middle, and three batters later Luke Johnson forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk, 9-8.
But the lead wouldn't hold for the Wildcats, as three errors in the bottom of the seventh hurt the visitors. A single and a walk started the inning, while a wild pitch put runners on second and third with no outs. The Bucs then scored a run each on an error, a fielder's choice, a balk, and a dropped fly ball in the inning.
The Wildcats went quietly in the eighth and left a two-out walk on first in the ninth to end the game.
Darren Donastorg went 3-for-4 with two RBI while Kendall Small, Luke Johnson, and Frank Nigro all collected two hits each. Johnson and Nigro added two RBI each as well.
The Wildcats continue within the Sunshine State Conference with their next game, as they head to West Palm Beach to play Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.