WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - - Seton Hill jumped out quickly and then broke it open with an eight run sixth inning, taking down the Wilmington University baseball team, 13-2, to begin the RUSSMATT Central Florida Invitational on Sunday at Bing Tyus Yard.
The Griffins (6-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after their first at-bat of the game, added one in the second but then poured it on with an eight-run sixth. The Griffins were also aided by six Wildcat (1-4) errors in the game, two coming in the first inning, one in the second inning, and three more coming in the big sixth inning.
The game started with an error, allowing the Griffins to get going in the top of the first inning. Seton Hill then collected four straight hits with one out in the inning, scoring on a single, a double, and an infield single, throwing error combination.
Another error led to an unearned run in the second, as starter Dan Hyatt and the Wildcats fell behind 5-0 after an inning and a half.
The Wildcats didn't get things going until Matt Warrington singled to start the bottom of the third, but he was left stranded at second as the inning ended.
Hyatt settled in and didn't allow another run, totaling five innings of work while picking up six strikeouts, but allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits and four walks.
An error, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Griffins in the sixth, and Seton Hill ended up sending eight batters to the plate before recording an out. In all, they scored eight runs on five hits, aided by three errors, and left the bases loaded.
CJ Deery and Quintin Ivy had back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom half, but two were left on base as the Wildcats could only get one run in the frame on a Brooks Ryan sacrifice fly.
Xander Emberger threw a scoreless seventh, Anthony Giordano tossed a scoreless eighth, and Brady Stamper threw a scoreless ninth, but the offense was held to only a single run in the seventh. Derek Donastorg launched a ball to the gap in left center with two outs, chasing JJ Killen around from first for the Wildcats' second run.
Matt Warrington went 3-for-4 while Donastorg, CJ Deery, and Quintin Ivy all had one hit. Justin Brooks worked out of trouble in the sixth, allowing only one unearned run. Emberger struck out a pair in his inning of relief.
The Wildcats turn right around and play Monday morning, as they face Gannon and Tiffin at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Florida. The first pitch of the day is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
