NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Ryan Sandberg struck out a program's second-best 15 batters as the Wilmington University baseball team started its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule with a 10-5 victory over Thomas Jefferson, 10-5, at Wilson Field on Tuesday.
The senior pitched struck out every Ram in the lineup at least once, accumulating 15 punchouts through 6.2 innings pitched. The Rams (8-8, 0-1 CACC) scored five runs late to cut into the deficit the Wildcats (8-2, 1-0 CACC) built from the beginning.
The Wildcats scored single runs in each of the first four innings, and then broke out for a two-run fifth inning and a three-run sixth inning to lead 9-0 after six full innings.
Jack McDonald started the scoring with a single up the middle, just out of the reach of the shortstop, scoring Nick Nocella. Nocella then gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to right in the second before John Mead hit a laser over the fence in right center for his first homer as a Wildcat.
Jack McDonald stayed hot with another RBI single up the middle in the fourth, scoring Nic Hertzfeld and giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Nic Hertzfeld came through with a two-run single over the head of the shortstop, scoring John Mead and JJ Killen to give the home team a 6-0 lead.
Jack McDonald was at it again in the sixth inning, launching a solo homer off the scoreboard in right to start the inning. Shawn Haut hit a sacrifice fly to score Quintin Ivy and then Nic Hertzfeld picked up his third RBI of the day by getting plunked in the elbow with the bases loaded.
Trying to get through the seventh inning, Sandberg picked up strikeouts 14 and 15, but a two-out double inside the third base bag ended the shutout and put the Rams on the board. Another single through the left side by the Rams and Sandberg's day was done. Xander Emberger came on, but her gave up another single inside the third base bag, scoring another run and closing the line on Sandberg's afternoon.
The Rams put three on the board in the top of the eighth, hitting a two-run homer and another RBI double to get as close as 9-5.
Ryan Sandberg improved to 3-0 with the win, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two batters. Three Wildcats have recorded 16 strikeouts in a game in the program's NCAA era, and Sandberg is the third Wildcat to record 15 strikeouts in a game, but the first since Frank Samluk against Mercy on March 12, 2015.
Jack McDonald finished 3-for-5 with three RBI while Nic Hertzfeld went 2-for-2 with three RBI. John Mead and Matt Warrington added two hits apiece as well.
The Wildcats will host Caldwell in another CACC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.