Wildcats Battle Back Form Early Deficit, but St. Cloud State Wins in Extras, 11-8

Photo of Dan Hyatt who batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI against St. Cloud State. Copyright 2020; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. March 5, 2020 vs. St. Cloud State at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.
Photo of Dan Hyatt who batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI against St. Cloud State. Copyright 2020; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. March 5, 2020 vs. St. Cloud State at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

AUBURNDALE. Fla. - - Down five before even stepping to the plate, the Wilmington University baseball team battled back to eventually tie the game, but St. Cloud State took the nonconference matchup, 11-8, in extra innings on Thursday night at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

The Wildcats (2-7) scored two in the bottom of the first and single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth to get back into the contest. After the Huskies (7-2) scored two in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats fought all the way back to tie it in the bottom of the eighth. But the Huskies scored four runs in the top of the 10th and the Wildcats could only answer with one.

St. Cloud State scored five runs in the top of the first while only recording one hit, using two errors, five walks, and a hit by pitch to get around the bases. Brock Nowell stayed hot in the bottom of the first with a one out single, then Dan Hyatt knocked him in by lining down inside the first base bag for a double. Hyatt then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Dan Hyatt hooked one into right again in the bottom of the third for another RBI double, scoring Brock Nowell again to get it to 5-3. Derek Donastorg started the fourth with a leadoff single and then Matt Warrington lined a triple into the gap in right center, bringing the Wildcats to within 5-4.

Brady Stamper, Justin Brooks, Alex Hinton, CJ Deery, Danny Sullivan, and Nick Robino all threw shutout innings in the middle of the game, but the Huskies went on the attack again in the top of the eighth.

With two outs and a runner on second, a short chopper to third was fielded, but thrown away, allowing one run to come in. The Huskies singled in another run, taking a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

But the Wildcats answered with runs of their own, loading the bases with singled form Hyatt and Eddie Nevins, and a walk from Derek Donastorg. Brooks Ryan grounded out to second for the first run, and then Matt Warrington came up big again with a two-run double to right, tying the game 7-7.  

Quintin Ivy got out of a tight jam in the top of the ninth, leaving a runner on third base with no outs in the inning. But the bottom of the ninth didn't amount to anything for the Wildcats, sending the game into extra innings.

The Huskies were able to get to Ivy in the 10th, hitting a one out triple to left center, and then a two-run double to right center. They tacked on two more with a Matt Quade two-run shot to left, taking an 11-7 lead.

The Wildcats gave one last effort in the 10th, as Donastorg hit a two-out double and Brooks Ryan tripled to left center, but that would be all they could get, falling 11-8.

Dany Hyatt went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored while Derek Donastorg and Matt Warrington each added two hits. Warrington led the way with three RBI.

The Wildcats are right back to action on Friday morning, as they play a seven-inning doubleheader against Gannon at Bing Tyus Yard in Winter Haven. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.