South’s No. 2 Wildcats Smash 19 Hits on Way to 14-3 Win over Nyack in CACC Tournament Play-In

South’s No. 2 Wildcats Smash 19 Hits on Way to 14-3 Win over Nyack in CACC Tournament Play-In

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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team has a chance to defend its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship, as they defeated Nyack, 14-3, in the Play-In Game on Saturday at Wilson Field.

The South Division No. 2 Seed, the Wildcats (35-16) collected 19 hits while scoring 14 runs, getting the bulk of the scoring done in the fifth (four runs) and sixth (six runs) innings.

With the win, the Wildcats advance to the double-elimination portion of the CACC Tournament, hosed by Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut starting next Thursday.

Dan Hyatt got the start for the Wildcats and went seven innings, striking out seven while only allowing four hits. A pair of errors in the sixth inning led to both Nyack runs for his only blemishes of the day. Kyle Maxwell came on and tossed the final two innings, striking out three while allowing a run on three hits.

The scoring started in a loud way, as Luke Johnson launched his 11th homer of the season to left center in the bottom of the second on the first pitch he saw.

Brett Nowell made it a 2-0 lead in the fourth as he executed a squeeze play with runners on first and third, getting the bunt down on a pitch down and in.

The Wildcats broke it open in the fifth, as the first three batters bunted for base hits to load them with no outs. Luke Johnson walked to force in a run before a wild pitch brought in another. Max Carney then capitalizes and took one the other way, past the third baseman and down the left field line for a two-run single.

Brooks Ryan tripled to lead off the sixth and Dakota Graham hit a long foul fly ball to left to start a six-run sixth. Luke Johnson walked with the bases loaded again and Max Carney again came through with an RBI single. Julian Kurych was hit by a pitch to bring in a run before Brett Nowell ground out for another run. The Wildcats batted around and Brooks Ryan added another RBI single, giving the Wildcats a 12-2 lead.

The Johnson and Carney show continued in the seventh, as Luke Johnson shot a laser past the shortstop and into left for an RBI double. Carney followed with another RBI single into right, plating Johnson for the 14-2 advantage.

Quintin Ivy and Max Carney led the way with three hits each while Dakota Graham, Luke Johnson, Julian Kurych, and Brooks Ryan all had two hits. Johnson and Carney had four RBI each while Brett Nowell finished with two RBI.

The CACC Tournament continues on Thursday, May 9, against an opponent and a time to be determined.