Wildcats Soar Past Eagles Behind Maxwell's Complete Game Shutout, 12-0, to Advance to CACC Championship Saturday

File photo of Kyle Maxwell who tossed a complete game shutout against Post in the CACC Tournament. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Chris Vitale. April 19, 2022 vs. West Chester at Citizens Bank Park.
File photo of Kyle Maxwell who tossed a complete game shutout against Post in the CACC Tournament. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Chris Vitale. April 19, 2022 vs. West Chester at Citizens Bank Park.

Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll

WATERBURY, Conn. - - Kyle Maxell's hot hand led the Wilmington University baseball team past Post in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Winner's Bracket game between the two number one seeds, 12-0, on Friday at Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats (30-10) advance to the Championship on Saturday versus the winner of the Felician and Post matchup.

Maxwell pitched a complete-game gem, giving up only four hits and a walk, while striking out eight batters.

After two scoreless innings, the Wildcats took the early lead in the matchup against the Eagles. The bottom of the third started off with JJ Killen reaching first with a base hit to right field. Killen would eventually come around to score the first run of the ball game on a wild pitch, to make it 1-0 'Cats in the third.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats scored one run on two hits, getting an RBI single from Jack McDonald, who continued his hot hitting in today's game, but the Wildcats left the bases loaded without scoring more.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats started to pull away as they took advantage of having runners on base. Erik Grady started things off with one with a single. JJ Killen and Matt Warrington were both walked to load the bases for the 'Cats with only one out. Hertzfeld delivered on an RBI scoring Killen and Grady also scored on the throw. Jack McDonald reached first on an error but earned an RBI by bringing in Matt Warrington. At the end of six, the Wildcats had a nice lead of 5-0.

In the bottom of the seventh the Wildcats capitalized on a Post error to add on more runs. Matt Warrington reached first base on an error with Killen and Grady on base. Grady scored and Warrington picked up the RBI. Hertzfeld stepped up to the plate with two runners on and one out. Hertzfeld delivered with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Killen. After seven full innings, the Wildcats were up 7-0.

The bats wouldn't quiet down in the bottom of the eighth. Shawn Haut opened the bottom half of the inning with a double to left field narrowly missing a home run. Shawn Edevane converted a successful sacrifice fly to center field to score Haut. The Wildcats had two outs and decided to rally for four runs before the end of the inning. McDonald added some more RBI to his stat sheet, as he hit a bases clearing double to collect three RBI as Hertzfeld, Warrington, and Grady all scored. John Mead joined the party with an RBI double of his own, scoring McDonald, to make it 12-0.

The Wildcats needed three more outs in the top of the ninth. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out, but Maxwell found a way to pitch out of the jam, striking out the final two batters to end the game and send the Wildcats to the 2022 CACC Tournament Championship.

Saturday will start with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch from Municipal Stadium.