LANTANA, Fla. - - Rain forced the cancellation of the final three innings between the No. 17 Wilmington University baseball team and Southern Connecticut State, ending the game in a 2-2 tie on Thursday afternoon at the Santaluces Sports Complex. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed.

A two-run third inning by the Wildcats (5-2-1 overall) tied the game after the Owls (0-0-1) started the top of the first with a pair of runs in their season opener.

The top of the order was at it again for the Wildcats, as Jon Castro started the rally in the third with a one-out single. After advancing to second, Josh Swirchak knocked Castro in with the Wildcats' first run of the game on a single. Now standing on second, Swirchak tied the game after scoring on a Josh Hampton double.

Wilmington starter Rob Gore gave up the two runs in the top of the first, giving up three runs and a walk, but responded by only allowing one hit in the remaining five innings of work. Gore struck out five batters while allowing four hits and only one walk.

The Wildcats collected seven hits in the shortened contest, but left six runners on base to settle for the tie. Castro and Swirchak collected two hits each while Hampton, Sam Goines, and Brody Tennant added one hit a piece to round out the Wildcats offense.

The Wildcats return to action on Friday as they head to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. to play a neutral site game against Molloy. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.