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Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Matt Warrington faced the minimum 21 batters in a two-hit shutout on Wednesday afternoon as the Wilmington University baseball team defeated Alliance, 11-0, at Wilson Field in the first of a three-game Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference series.
Matt Warrington set a new career-high with 13 strikeouts in the game, facing the minimum 21 batters as the two hits that reached base were caught stealing and picked off. He previously struck out 12 batters at Bloomfield earlier this year and 12 batters against Saint Anselm as a freshman in 2020.
Alliance came up with a two-out hit in the first but that led to catcher Nick Classie throwing out the Alliance runner trying to steal for the third out. That punchout was Classie's eighth runner caught stealing this year.
Erik Grady started the game with a double down the right-field line. Two batters later, Jack McDonald stepped up and took the first pitch he saw to the right side to score Grady to open the scoring. McDonald picked up his 30th RBI of the season.
With two runners on in the second, Nick Classie singled back up the middle to score Zach Czarnecki. Dom Grady then scored on a passed ball and an error allowed Tyler Pirrung to plate two more. Eddie Parry completed the 5-run second with his second double of the game, scoring Pirrung for the 6-0 lead.
Alliance recorded another hit in the top of the third, but the Wildcat's defense stepped up again as Warrington, Killen, and Czarnecki successfully picked off the Alliance runner at first base.
In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats scored two runs with one out. First, Dom Grady hit a double to right center, which led to runners on second and third. Then, Nick Classie cleared the bases with a single through the left side, scoring JJ Killen and Grady.
Both Nick Nocella and JJ Killen had a harsh welcome for the Alliance reliever, going back up the middle that nearly clipped the pitcher. Killen's single scored Jack McDonald for his 28th RBI of the year, making it 9-0.
Nic Hertzfeld stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch for the 43rd time in his career, bringing a runner home. Mike Rodriguez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, settling the score at 11-0.
Warrington struck out the side in the fifth, added two more in the sixth, and then set his new career mark with one final strikeout in the seventh. He is now 6-0 on the year.
Nick Classie went 3-for-3 with three RBI while Erik Grady, Jack McDonald, Eddie Parry, Zach Czarnecki, and Dom Grady all finished with two hits each.
Up Next:
The Wildcats will play Alliance again, but this time at Richmond County Stadium on Saturday, April 22, in a doubleheader. The two teams will play a nine-inning game, followed by a seven-inning game starting at 10:00 a.m.