NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Central Page
RINDGE, N.H. - - A three-run eighth inning pushed the Wilmington University baseball team past Southern New Hampshire, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA East Regional Tournament on Thursday night at Franklin Pierce's Pappas Field.
The Penmen (30-13) had a leadoff single and a two-run home run in the first two batters of the bottom of the first, but Wildcat (34-12) starter Jamie Treml settled in from there, tossing a strong eight innings while striking out 12.
The Wildcats didn't collect a hit off Penmen starter Cole Warren the top of the sixth inning, as Sean Feeney led off the frame with a single to left field. The offense only left solo runners on in the top of the second, sixth, and seventh innings before the offense came alive in the top of the eighth.
With Warren still on the mound in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats put the first two runners of the inning on with hit-by-pitches, setting up the rest of the inning. After Warren picked up an out on a strikeout, Frank Samluk doubled to right center to put the Wildcats on the board. Feeney then raced home to tie the game on a passed ball, also allowing Samluk to move to third.
Jon Castro roped a ball to the gap in left center, but Kyle McGinnity tracked the ball down in left center for the Penmen, driving to make the second out of the inning. The ball was deep enough to score Samluk, however, giving the Wildcats the 3-2 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Penmen threatened with a hit and an error, putting runners on first and third. Treml induced a fly ball to center to end the threat and get out of the jam unscathed.
Tyler Fries relieved Treml in the bottom of the ninth, working around a leadoff single by picking up two strikeouts before inducing a foul out to first base to end the game.
Treml struck out 12 while only allowing the two first inning runs on five hits. He improved to 8-0 on the year with the win, not having lost since April 1, 2012. Fries picked up his 11th save of the season while Warren fell to 2-2 on the year for the Penmen.
With the win, the Wildcats move on to play second seeded Stonehill on Friday at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks defeated Dowling, 5-2, in the second game on Thursday.
