NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team climbed to within one win of claiming the 2022 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division Regular Season title on Saturday, sweeping Dominican, 11-8 and 12-2, at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats remain a game on top of Goldey-Beacom with two games remaining in the CACC regular season. The Wildcats and Lightning play on Sunday in a doubleheader at Wilson Field for the South Division Championship and the bye into the double elimination portion of the CACC Tournament.
GAME 1:
All 11 runs came in four innings for the Wildcats (26-9, 18-4 CACC), needing to come from behind twice early in the game. The Chargers (14-31, 11-12 CACC) scored four runs in the top of the first inning and then again in the top of the third inning, but then the Wildcats' bullpen shut them down the rest of the way.
Trailing 4-0, John Mead starting the bottom of the second with a double into the right field corner. Now with runners on second and third, a balk brought in Mead for the Wildcats' first run. Now with two outs, a throwing error allowed Adrian Jimenez to reach and score the second run of the inning. Jack McDonald stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a seed off the top of the wall in center, bringing in all three runs to take a 5-4 lead.
But the Chargers answered right back with four more runs in the top of the third, retaking an 8-5 lead after four hits and an error.
Now trailing 8-7 in the fourth, Quintin Ivy tied the game with an RBI single off the mound and into centerfield to score Nic Hertzfeld. Ivy would steal home later in the inning and then an error at short brought in another run as the Wildcats led 10-8 after four innings.
Jack McDonald collected his fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth, finalizing the scoring in game one.
Lance Hinton pitched two innings of relief to earn his second win of the season, striking out two while allowing one hit. Alex Hinton had a scoreless sixth inning and then Alex Krick came on for a scoreless seventh for his fourth save of the year.
GAME 2:
Dominican was the first to score again in the nightcap, but then it was all Wilmington as they put it away with a nine-run fourth inning.
Nick Nocella kept a ball fair inside the third base bag in the bottom of the second, putting the Wildcats on the board, 2-1. John Mead gave the Wildcats the lead for good by going to the opposite field with a double to left center, plating two more.
The Wildcats brought 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring nine runs on seven hits and aided by three more Dominican errors. Scott Borgmann started the inning with a double and then came back up and hit an RBI double later in the inning. Erik Grady also had an RBI double in the inning as well. The Wildcats led 12-2 after the inning.
Devin McClendon came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning and picked up a big strikeout to end the frame. He also came out and pitched a scoreless fourth to pick up the win and improve to 1-1 on the year.
Xander Emberger pitched two scoreless innings and then CJ Deery closed out the game with a scoreless seventh frame with two strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats host Goldey-Beacom on Sunday in a 9-7 doubleheader at Wilson Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Sunday is also Senior Day for six Wildcats.