PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - For the second time in the 14 year history of the Bill Giles Invitational, the Wilmington University baseball team took home the championship, defeating West Chester, 7-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The last time the Wildcats (27-7-1 overall) won the Bill Giles Invitational was in the 2007 season, when the University was Wilmington College. The Wildcats have played in the championship at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, in each of the past three seasons.
The Rams got on the scoreboard first, hitting a two out single to bring home a run for the 1-0 lead.
The game opened up for the Wildcats in the top of the second, as they put five runs on the board, with the big hit coming from the bat of Josh Swirchak.
Brody Tennant walked to start the inning and was chased home all the way from first on an RBI double from Sam Goines to tie the match. Now with runners on first and second after a Jon Castro single, Swirchak smashed his second home run of the season in to the seats in left to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. Mike Annone rounded out the Wildcats scoring in the second, scoring Frank Samluk who started a new rally with a single to follow the home run.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning, tacking on two more runs.
Castro tripled to start the inning, while the red hot Swirchak doubled him home to pick up his fourth RBI of the game. Now with runners on first and third, Matt Lopes singled in the team's seventh and final run of the game, bringing home Swirchak.
Samluk tossed the first two innings for the Wildcats, striking out three batters while allowing a run on five hits. Ray Gambone pitched the next two innings, as he faced six batters, setting them all down. Chris Lopez tossed the next two innings, striking out three batters without allowing a run on three hits.
Jamie Treml pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Nick Marics allowed a run on two hits in the eighth. Tyler Fries closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out a batter while allowing one hit.
Mike Annone and Castro led the team with three hits each, as Castro batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Annone went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Swirchak led all batters with four RBI on the afternoon, batting 2-for-5 while adding two runs scored. Lopes also went 2-for-4 in the contest while Samluk, and Goines added the two final hits for the Wildcats to total 12 for the game.
The Wildcats have little rest for the weary this week, as they are back in action on Wednesday when they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. The team will host USciences at Wilson Field for a conference doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
