PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University baseball team earned the right to play at the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, defeating USciences, 11-8, in the First Round of the Bill Giles Invitational and a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game on Tuesday at Richie Ashburn Field.
With the win, the Wildcats (14-5, 7-1 CACC) will look to defend their Bill Giles Invitational Championship, last played in 2019. They will play West Chester, who defeated Jefferson earlier this season, on Tuesday, April 19. More information about tickets and parking will be available at a later date.
The scoring started in the top of the first inning, as the new home run leader Quintin Ivy added to his career program record with a three-run blast. The Devils (11-18, 5-6 CACC) answered right back with a two-run shot of their own in the bottom of the first, closing the gap, 3-2.
Jack McDonald and Quintin Ivy reached to start the top of the third inning and then John Mead knocked in the first of three runs in the inning with an RBI single. A fielder's choice scored the second run and then Erik Grady hit a sacrifice fly to give the Wildcats a 6-2 lead.
The Devils answered right back once again, tying the game with a four-run third inning. They scored four runs with only one hit, using two Wildcat errors and a hit by pitch to score.
The Wildcats took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning, starting with a Jack McDonald RBI single to score Nic Hertzfeld. Quintin Ivy hit a sacrifice fly and then John Mead blasted his fifth homer of the year, a two-run shot to give the Wildcats a 10-6 lead.
The Devils made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth, collecting a two-out RB single to cut the deficit to 10-8. But with runners on first and third, Alex Hinton induced a flyout to end the inning.
Alex Krick came on to close out the Devils in the ninth, getting the first two outs via the strikeout. An error and a single brought the tying run to the plate, but Krick buckled down and earned his second save with another strikeout, ending the game, 11-8.
John Mead went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, while Quintin Ivy went 2-for-3 with a homer, four RBI, and three runs scored. Jack McDonald and Nic Hertzfeld each went 2-for-4 while McDonald scored three times.
Matt Boyko pitched four innings of relief and earned the win, striking out five while allowing two runs on four hits.
The Wildcats remain in the CACC with their next doubleheader, as they go to Felician on Friday afternoon. The first pitch of the two seven-inning games is slated for 11:30 a.m. at Palisades Park.