The Wilmington University baseball team's bats were silenced at Palm Beach Atlantic, 8-1, on Wednesday night at Rubin Park, leaving seven runners on with only five hits.
Palm Beach Atlantic (6-6) starting pitcher Kennie Silvestri shut down the Wildcats (0-2) for 6.1 innings, giving up three hits while allowing one run with three strikeouts. The win was the sixth straight for the Sailfish after starting the season 0-6.
The Sailfish got on the board first in the second inning, receiving a one out double before scoring the game's first run on a sacrifice fly. A two-run shot to left in the bottom of the fourth gave the home team a 3-0 lead after four full innings. The home run was the first for the Sailfish at their brand new facility, Rubin Park.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, getting an RBI groundout from designated hitter Matt Lopes. Sam Goines started the inning with getting hit by a pitch before stealing second.
But the Sailfish got the run back in the home half of the seventh before adding four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.
The Wildcats used six pitchers in a planned staff day for the squad as Rob Gore earned the start and pitched a scoreless first inning. Jake Wersinger was saddled with the loss after tossing the second and third innings, giving up an unearned run in the second inning.
Josh Swirchak went 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice bunt while Mike Annone went 2-for-4 to total four of the team's five hits. Sean Feeney went 1-for-3 to account for the final knock.
The Sailfish's Brian Walker went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run, knocking in two while adding three runs scored. Silvestri earned his first win of the season in leading the Sailfish staff.
The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday morning as they begin a string of six consecutive games against northern teams in Florida. The Wildcats square off against Southern New Hampshire at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., on Thursday.
The Penmen are ranked No. 2 in the latest NCBWA East Region Poll and No. 23 in the National Poll. The Wildcats are fourth in the NCBWA East Region Poll. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
