Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Christian Adorno scoring in the fifth inning against Adelphi. 

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - - An eight run sixth inning was too much to overcome for the Wilmington University baseball team, as Adelphi ran away with a 10-3 victory on Friday afternoon at Mainieri Field on the campus of St. Thomas University.

Tied 2-2 after five and half innings, Adelphi (6-3) connected on nine hits in the bottom of the sixth inning and was aided by a pair of Wildcat (2-8) errors to score eight runs in the frame. The eight runs were too much to overcome for the Wildcats, despite collecting nine hits themselves throughout the game.

Adelphi jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring a pair of runs as the first three batters reached base via a hit. An RBI single and an executed first and third play brought in the runs for the Panthers.

Christian Adorno hit a one out double in the third inning, but was picked off third base to end the threat. Rocky Ferrier singled with one out in the fourth inning, but the next two Wildcats struck out to end the frame with no runs scored.

Frank Nigro sparked a fifth inning rally with a leadoff single. The Panthers were nearly out of it as Nigro was on second with two outs, but pitching around Adorno with a base opened came back to hurt Adelphi. Now on second and third following a wild pitch, Nigro and Adorno came home as Julian Kurych reached on a throwing error by the second baseman on a short chopper.

Wilmington starter Jay Kluka settled in after the first inning, and shut the Panthers down in order in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game knotted at 2-2 after five full.

But the Panthers responded by collecting four straight hits in the bottom of the sixth, including a double steal and error to score the inning's first run. Another throwing error on a sacrifice bunt kept the rally going, as the Panthers collected their fifth straight hit without recording an out to start the frame. Another four straight hits with one out in the inning carried the Panthers to score eight runs before a line drive double play ended the inning.

The Wildcats had runners on first and third with only one out in the top of the seventh, but could only score one run in the inning as Adorno beat out a double play attempt at first, scoring Matt Alexander.

Kurych led the offense with two hits while seven other Wildcats ended with one hit apiece. Adorno's double was the only extra base hit for the Wildcats.

Kluka went 5.0 innings while striking out four batters in his first loss of the season. He allowed five runs on seven hits, with the bulk of it coming to start the sixth frame. Noah Latshaw and Kyle Fries each tossed a scoreless inning to end the game.

The Wildcats will have another crack at the Panthers, as the two square off against each other on Saturday at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., with the Wildcats then facing PBA at 4:00 p.m.