HOCKESSIN, Del. - - A 12-2 victory in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader gave the Wilmington University baseball team the season series victory over neighboring Goldey-Beacom, splitting Friday's games at Doyle Field.
GAME 1:
Kyle Maxwell and Goldey-Beacom's (22-13, 7-5 CACC) Jake Kelchner dueled in the opener, each pitching into the eighth inning. Goldey-Beacom's first hit came in the fourth inning, but it happened to be a solo homer to be the lone run of the game until the eighth inning.
The Wildcats (20-13, 12-2 CACC) had runners on first and third after back-to-back one out singles in the first, but a strikeout and a grounder left two runners on.
The Wildcats' next best chance came in the top of the eighth as JJ Killen started the frame with a single. Adrian Jimenez reached on a bunt and Nick Classie moved both runners up into scoring position. Now with the bases loaded, Jack McDonald hit a fly ball to right. Trying to tag, JJ Killen was called for interference as the throw was up the line and brought Killen and the catcher together, keeping the score at 1-0.
The Lightning tacked on four unearned insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, getting a three-run homer from Marlon Lindsey Jr to take a 5-0 lead and even the series, 1-1.
Jack McDonald and JJ Killen each had two hits in game one.
GAME 2:
With the game tied, 2-2, after four innings, the Wildcats scored 10 unanswered runs in their final three at-bats to win the season series and keep a two-game lead in the CACC South Division.
Jack McDonald started the scoring with a solo shot to right center in the top of the first. It was his seventh homer of the season, tied for second in the CACC. CJ Deery gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, beating out a bunt to score JJ Killen.
Goldey-Beacom hit a homer to start the third and then the next three batters reached to load the bases with no outs. An error brought in the tying run, 2-2, but then starter Matt Boyko buckled down and induced a fly ball, picked up a strikeout, and ended the inning with another fly ball.
After a scoreless fourth, the Wildcats regained the lead with a three-run fifth. Eddie Parry singled in Nic Hertzfeld and then JJ Killen followed with a two-run double to right center. Jack McDonald singled in Derry in the sixth and then Eddie Parry was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Erik Grady made it 9-2 with a two-run, two-out single.
The Wildcats tacked on three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh, including a two-run sacrifice fly by Parry, scoring Shawn Edevane and Nic Hertzfeld, putting the game out reach.
Matt Boyko improved to 3-0 after pitching 6.0 innings and only allowing two runs on four hits. He punched out five batters in the win.
JJ Killen went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI while Jack McDonald went 3-for-3 with tree RBI. Eddie Parry finished 1-for-3 with four RBI in the game.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats are on the road Sunday, battling another tough CACC foe. They take on CACC North Division leading Post in Waterbury, Connecticut starting at 12:00 p.m.