NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Josh Hampton batted 3-for-4 and scored both runs as the top seeded Wilmington University baseball team stayed alive in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament by defeating fifth seeded Dominican, 2-1, on Friday afternoon at Wilson Field.
With the winner advancing to the CACC Tournament Championship and the loser being eliminated, the game was intensified and the Wildcats (34-8-1 overall) hung on down the stretch even as Dominican (22-24) left the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth.
Hampton (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) continued his strong CACC Tournament play in the top of the first of today's game, hitting a two-out, bases empty single through the right side. After stealing second, Hampton came around to score the team's first run on a Matt Lopes double that hugged the left field line but stayed fair.
Leading off the fourth inning, Hampton led off the frame with a triple to right center, lining a ball halfway up the fence in center field, just to the right of the batter's eye. Two batters later, Hampton scored his second run of the game as Joe Marciano singled off Dominican starter Brett Schneider's leg on the mound.
Wilmington starting pitcher Frank Samluk worked his way through seven innings, throwing 104 innings while only allowing one run on three hits. He struck out five batters but walked an unusual three batters for the junior righty.
The Chargers picked up their lone run of the afternoon on one swing of the bat in the top of the seventh.
With one out in the inning, switch hitting catcher Tyler Clark blasted his first home run of the season to nearly the same spot that Hampton hit his triple, but hitting his over the fence to cut the deficit in half. With two outs in the inning, the Chargers put two runners on by a walk and a single, but Samluk struck out Kyle Hall looking to end the threat, the inning, and his outing.
Nick Marics came on for the eighth inning and allowed a one out single to CACC Rookie of the Year Jayson Gray. But Gray was eliminated by Lopes who threw out Gray who was attempting to steal second. It was only the third time in 46 attempts that Gray has been caught trying to swipe a bag.
Kyle Lindstrom hit a pinch hit double in the eighth but pinch runner Tory Manfre was left stranded at third with one out in the inning, as the Wildcats were unable to pick up an insurance run.
Tyler Fries came on looking for his second save of the CACC Tournament, but Clark doubled down the left field line with one out in the inning to spark a last ditch rally for the Chargers.
Fries induced Carlos Lopez into a comebacker to the mound before striking out Christopher Cockle to end the game and keep Wilmington alive.
Hampton was a home run shy of the cycle on Friday, while Lopes, Marciano, and Lindstrom collected the other three hits for the Wildcats.
Samluk is now 5-0 on the season while Fries earned his eighth save of the season.
The Wildcats will square off against second seeded Felician on Saturday for the CACC Tournament Championship, with the Wildcats needing to win two games after coming out of the loser's bracket.
The first pitch of the CACC Tournament Championship is set for 11 a.m.