Copyright 2016: Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Julian Kurych watching an extra base hit against USciences, taken by Joseph Craig. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles against West Chester.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - - A four-run ninth inning stunned the Wilmington University baseball team as West Chester came back to steal a 9-8 nonconference decision on Monday afternoon at Serpico Stadium.
An error and back-to-back walks sparked the Golden Rams (28-10) to score four runs on three hits in the ninth inning, overcoming an 8-5 Wildcat (13-24) lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The ninth inning letdown overshadowed an offensive outburst for the Wildcats, as they collected their second most hits in a contest this year, scoring eight runs on 14 knocks. Four of the 14 hits were extra base hits, including two doubles from Julian Kurych and two-run homer from Christian Adorno.
Kurych's first double scored a run in the top of the first, setting the wheels in motion offensively. Kurych knocked in the second run as well, dragging a bunt for a single while a throwing error chased runners around the bags. Adorno made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly before Nick Macey capped the three-run third with an RBI single to center.
West Chester didn't back down, however, as the home team hit three home runs n the first four innings. Their two-run homer gave them a brief lead in the second before back-to-back jacks put the Golden Rams ahead, 5-4, after four full innings.
But the Wildcats kept coming back, this time using the long ball themselves. Adorno launched his first career homer, a two-run shot to left, for the Wildcats to regain a 6-5 lead in the fifth. Matt Alexander hit a one-out double to left center in the sixth to score Rocky Ferrier before Kurych hit his second double of the game, scoring Alexander for the 8-5 lead in the sixth inning.
Dan Hyatt was aided by an out at the plate before leaving two runners on in the sixth and Brad Scull stranded two more Golden Rams in the bottom of the seventh, picking up back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame. Scull then came back to leave a two out triple at third in the eighth, setting up the comeback in the ninth.
Peter Monahan came on to close out the contest in the final inning, but an Adorno throwing error put the leadoff runner on first. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases before Monahan picked up a strikeout for the first out of the inning. The Golden Rams then came up with back-to-back singles to close the gap to 8-7 before a foul out produced the second out of the frame. But Monahan couldn't get the third out, as Drew Diehl hit a two-run, walk-off double to center field to complete the comeback.
Kurych led the offense with four hits, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored. Alexander, Scull, Macey, and Max Carney all added two hits in the game while Adorno led the team with three RBI.
The Wildcats have a chance to get back onto the field and forget the loss on Tuesday, as they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action in heading to Caldwell. The first game of the CACC doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.