AUBURNDALE, Fla. - - Six different Wildcats homered as the Wilmington University baseball team found its offense in a 20-10 victory over St. Anselm on Tuesday morning at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.
The Wildcats (2-6) collected 20 hits and scored in eight of the nine innings, getting back in the win column for the first time since their first game of the season. Freshman Matt Warrington did not allow a hit in six innings of work before turning it over to the bullpen. He struck out 12 batters and only walked one for his first collegiate career victory.
The offense got started right away, as Dan Hyatt knocked in Brock Nowell, who went 5-for-5 at the plate, with an RBI single in the top of the first. Brett Nowell scored JJ Killen with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second for the 2-0 lead.
Brock Nowell picked up his second hit of the game in the top of the third, launching a solo homer to right center for a 3-0 lead. Eddie Nevins then scored Hyatt with an RBI single to make it 4-0 after three. Brock Nowell stayed red hot with another RBI single in the fourth, then Dan Hyatt trotted around the bases with a two-run shot to right to make it 7-0.
The sophomore again came to the plate with runners on in the top of the sixth, and Brock Nowell doubled the opposite way to score Quintin Ivy and take a 9-0 lead.
After the Hawks (4-5) scored five off relievers in the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats answered with a six-spot in the top of the eighth. Eddie Nevins started a streak of long balls with his first of the season, a two-run shot to left center to make it 12-5. Derek Donastorg followed suit with a solo shot to left and the 13-5 lead and then JJ Killen made it back-to-back-to-back jacks for the Wildcats, with his first collegiate homer to make it 14-5.
The Hawks wouldn't go down easily though, as they put another five-spot on the board in the bottom of the eighth. But the Wildcats' offense came to live again in the top of the ninth, evening out the score.
Killen hit a hard grounder through the hole on the left side for the first run of the inning, and then CJ Wilkerson sent a blast to left with the bases loaded, bringing them all in with the grand slam for his first collegiate career homer as well.
Quintin Ivy then shut the Hawks down in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Wildcats the 20-10 victory.
Brock Nowell went 5-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored while Dan Hyatt went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Derek Donastorg and JJ Killen had three hits a piece while Eddie Nevins and CJ Wilkerson had two each.
The Wildcats have Wednesday off, but will return to action in Florida on Thursday night with a non-region contest against St. Cloud State. First pitch is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.