SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - - A five-run first inning propelled the Wilmington University baseball team to a 6-4 nonconference victory over Shippensburg, capturing its first game since earning its high national ranking in program history, on Wednesday afternoon at Fairchild Field.
The win was the sixth straight for the Wildcats (33-12 overall), completing a season sweep over the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) by winning all seven contests against the neighboring region schools. It is also the first time they beat Shippensburg (23-18) twice in a season since they first met in 2009.
Frank Samluk capped the first inning with a two-run triple, as the Wildcats were able to capitalize on a pair of Red Raider errors to start the game.
With runners on first and second after a Jordan Johnson single and Jon Castro reaching on a fielder's choice, Shippensburg starter Kyle McClintock's pickoff attempt to first was off the mark, allowing both runners to move up a base. Josh Hampton started the scoring with an RBI groundout before Matt Lopes singled to right to score Castro.
Jonathan Rodriguez restarted the first inning rally with double to right, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Two batters later, Brandon Payne reached on an error by the first baseman, allowing Lopes to score for the 3-0 lead. Samluk then smoked his second triple to the gap in left center, chasing both Payne and Rodriguez home.
The Red Raiders got one back in the home half of the first off Wilmington starter Ray Gambone, but then neither team scored until the top of the eighth inning.
Hampton led off the eighth with a single before being moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by Lopes. Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to center field, giving the Wildcats an insurance run, 6-1.
Gambone recorded the first two outs in the eighth inning, but was lifted after a bunt single brought home a run and put runners on first and second. Tyler Fries replaced Gambone, but the Red Raiders ran themselves out of the inning as Lopes caught Mike Marcinko trying to swipe third base.
Trailing 6-2, Shippensburg threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with only one out in the inning. Cody Kulp singled back up the middle off Wilmington reliever Jarrett Shaffer to score two runs and bring the home team to within two at 6-4. Nick Marics came on and induced a pop up for the second out of the inning before earning the same with a grounder to Rodriguez at short for the final out of the game.
Gambone went 7.2 innings for the win, improving to 6-1 on the year while allowing two runs on 11 hits. McClintock fell to 2-5 for the Red Raiders, giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits.
Samluk finished 2-for-4 with two RBI's while Lopes and Rodriguez each went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the contest. The Wildcats collected 11 hits and left six runners on base.