NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Another pair of strong pitching performances carried the 19th ranked Wilmington University baseball team over Post, 6-0 and 6-3, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at Wilson Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats (18-4-1, 8-2 CACC) collected 20 hits on the afternoon, but only allowed 10 to Post (10-11, 6-3 CACC) while only allowing two earned runs on the afternoon.
Game one starter Ray Gambone pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five batters in the win. Gambone improved to 3-1 on the year with the victory. Tyler Fries tossed a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts while Peter Monahan completed the third straight shutout for the Wildcats with a scoreless ninth inning.
The bats tallied single runs in the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, before breaking the game open with the final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Senior Josh Hampton hit an RBI single through the left side to give the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead in the fourth before an RBI triple from Brody Tennant chased Matt Lopes all the way home from first with two outs in the fifth.
Mike Annone tacked on another run with an RBI single into left field in the sixth inning before Josh Swirchak capped the scoring with a bases loaded two-run double to right center in the seventh.
Game two starter Frank Samluk pitched into the sixth inning, striking out a season's best eight batters while only allowing one walk and six hits. Only two of his three runs were earned, but he still earned the win for the Wildcats, improving to 3-0 on the season.
Jay Kluka tossed a scoreless inning and a third before Nick Marics tossed a perfect eighth inning. Jarrett Shaffer came on and picked up his third save of the season, striking out one batter while tossing a perfect ninth.
The bats gave some breathing space for the offense with a four run fifth inning, creating a 6-1 cushion. With the bases loaded, Hampton singled the other way into right field, scoring two more to start the inning. A sacrifice squeeze my Mike Jerminski brought in another run before Hampton raced on the ensuing throwing error on the Jerminski bunt.
The Wildcats got out to an early lead after the first two innings, tallying a single run in first of the first two frames. Swirchak started the home half of the first with a triple over the head of the right fielder before coming home on an RBI groundout by Hampton.
A two-out hit by pitch with the bases empty came back to haunt the Eagles, as Goines tripled to center field on the next at-bat bringing Tyler Hawthorne all the way around from first for the fast 2-0 lead.
Hampton batted 4-for-8 with four RBI and a run scored on Tuesday, while Swirchak batted 3-for-7 with two RBI and two runs scored.
The Wildcats' game at Kutztown scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed due to Kutztown needing to makeup a PSAC game, but the Wildcats will host West Chester at Wilson Field instead. Wednesday's makeup from Monday afternoon is set for a 3 p.m. start.
