Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Jake Wersinger from the 2015 NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - - The Wilmington University baseball team earned its first win of the 2016 season with a nightcap victory, 3-0, over New Haven, after dropping Saturday's first game, 4-0, to Southern New Hampshire at the Ripkin Experience.
The Wildcats (1-2) ran into a buzz saw in the first game against the Penmen, as Tim Viehoff tossed a one-hit shutout in a matchup of a pair of top tier East Region teams. Jake Wersinger then came through for the Wildcats in the nightcap against New Haven, tossing five strong innings as the Wildcats shut out the Chargers for their win of the season.
In the victory, Wersinger didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, and then got out of a bases loaded jam in the inning before turning the game over to the bullpen. Matt Frost tossed a pair of scoreless innings before Mike Torres held the Chargers scoreless in the eighth inning. Kyle Menchaca closed the down with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the ninth, earning his first collegiate save. The Wildcats were a single up the middle in the fifth inning away from a combined no-hitter.
The bats came alive just enough to score the eventual game-winning run in the second inning, starting with an infield single by Jesse Long with two outs. Kyle Fries walked to force Long into scoring position before Julian Kurych singled into right canter, bringing in Long for the 1-0 lead.
Christian Adorno worked a leadoff walk in the third, stole second, and stole third as an overthrow sailed into left field, allowing him to walk home for the 2-0 lead.
Adorno again walked to lead off the fifth and back-to-back bunts put the junior on third with two outs. Adorno eventually scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wildcats the 3-0 lead with his second run of the game.
In the day's first game, the Wildcats couldn't solve Southern New Hampshire's Tim Viehoff, as Viehoff tossed a complete game one hitter. The lone hit came early in the contest, as Adorno singled into right field to lead off the bottom of the first inning.
Viehoff recorded 13 straight outs from the second inning to the sixth inning, when Matt Alexander reached on an error with one out in the sixth. But Alexander was stranded at second base to end the inning, as Viehoff battled back to get the next two outs on ground balls.
The Wildcats threatened again in the seventh, putting two runners on with two outs, but Viehoff induced a fly ball to get out of the jam. Dan Hyatt walked to lead off the eighth, but again, Viehoff left him stranded at second, retiring the next three batters.
Chuck Delagol tossed the first four innings for the Wildcats, giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out four batters but while three. Rudy Gervolino tossed 2.1 innings in his collegiate debut, allowing two runs on two hits. Torres (0.2 innings), Peter Monahan (1.0 IP), and Noah Latshaw (1.0) all tossed scoreless frames to close out the game.
The Wildcats wrap up their season opening weekend in Myrtle Beach with a game against NCBWA Preseason East Region No. 1 Franklin Pierce on Sunday at the Ripken Experience. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.