NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team got back on track in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, sweeping a doubleheader from Nyack, 8-2 and 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Although being out hit in the pair of games, the Wildcats (30-12, 14-3 CACC) capitalized on four Nyack (9-20, 6-9 CACC) errors in the first game, scoring five unearned runs to snap a two game conference skid. The team utilized its small-ball ability in game two, using an eighth inning walk to score the second game's lone run to secure the sweep.
Senior Dave Hatt improved to 6-0 with the win in game one, striking out eight batter while only allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. Armando Estrada tossed a scoreless eighth before Peter Monahan came on to secure the first victory with a scoreless ninth.
Josh Hampton got the Wildcats on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Jordan Johnson on an RBI groundout. Matt Lopes singled home Joe Marciano a batter later to give the home team a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Jonathan Rodriguez singled home a run in the third inning after a Hampton knocked another run in on a ground ball. After the first three innings, Hatt held a 5-1 advantage and was able to cruise.
Another unearned run and another run scored on a wild pitch in the fourth gave the Wildcats a 7-2 advantage before Samluk singled home Sam Goines in the fifth with the game's final run.
Johnson went 2-for-4 in the first game, scoring a team high three runs. Samluk was the only other Wildcat to collect more than one hit, going 2-for-2 with a sacrifice, a run scored and an RBI.
The second game was an old fashioned pitcher's duel, as Samluk and Nyack's Erik Puterio were toe to toe through the first six innings. Samluk went the first six innings of the game, striking out four Warriors while allowing six hits and two walks. Puterio retired 10 straight batters ending the seventh inning, finishing the day with two strikeouts, two walks, and three hits. Nyack also turned two double-plays in the early going to help their game two starter.
Tyler Fries came on to pitch a scoreless seventh, following by Nick Marics' scoreless eighth inning.
With the 10 consecutive Wildcats being retired, Jon Castro came on to pinch hit in the bottom of the eighth inning and worked seven pitch walk to start the inning. Brendan Fallers moved Castro to second with his team leading 12th sacrifice bunt of the season. With Johnson up and the infield drawn in a step, Castro swiped third, sliding to the back of the back to avoid the late tag. On the next pitch, Johnson squeezed home Castro, putting one in front of the pitcher who's toss was too late as Castro slid head first ahead of the play.
Jarrett Shaffer came on in the ninth and allowed a two out single, but shut the door on the Warriors as the runner never moved past first base. It was Shaffer's third save of the season with Marics improving to 3-3 with the win in the scoreless eighth inning.
Goines went 2-for-3 in the nightcap while Hampton was the only other Wildcat to collect a hit in the second game.
The Wildcats have three nonconference games this week before returning to the CACC, making up a couple games from earlier rainouts this season. The team will host West Chester in a doubleheader on Tuesday, with the first game being a makeup from an earlier postponement. The first pitch against the defending NCAA Division II National Champions will be at 1:00 p.m. at Wilson Field.