BOCA RATON, Fla. - - The Wilmington University baseball team jumped out to an huge early lead, but then had to fight and claw back, only being cut short due to darkness at Lynn, falling 22-18, on Monday afternoon.
The Wildcats (5-2) jumped out to an 8-0 lead after the top of the first inning, but Lynn (11-6) fought back with 13 runs in three innings, and then opened the margin with an eight run seventh. The Wildcats started to charge back, scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth before the game was called due to darkness with two outs and a man on second.
Julian Kurych and Max Carney led off the game with a single and a double, respectively, and the Wildcats had a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch and a Kendall Small RBI double. The hitting continued, as Brock Nowell had an RBI single to right, and Dan Hyatt brought in a run with a bases loaded walk. Dakota Graham walked to force in another run and Brett Nowell added a two-run single. Kendall Small made it 8-0 in the first half inning, adding another RBI single in the first.
It wasn't until the 11th batter of the inning that the Wildcats recorded an out.
Sean Deely took care of the Fighting Knights in the bottom of the first, but the home team got on the board in the bottom of the second with a RBI triple and scoring a run on a double play. A three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning switched momentum to Lynn's side, bringing the Fighting Knights to with 8-7.
Two throwing errors in the top of the fourth gave the Wildcats two runs to regain a 10-7 lead, but Lynn kept the momentum going in the home half. Another three-run homer tied the game, 10-10, before a pair of doubles scored three more runs as Lynn took a 13-10 lead.
Julian Kurych tripled to start the seventh, but the Wildcats could only get one in the frame as Max Carney grounded out to score Kurych. Then the Knights blew the game open with an eight-run bottom of the seventh. A two-run double started the scoring for the home team and the inning was capped with a two-run homer, as Lynn grabbed a 21-11 lead.
Down to their last chance, and with two outs and the bases empty, the Wildcats started to make a comeback in the top of the ninth. A walk started a rally for the Wildcats as Brad Scull followed with an RBI double. Luke Johnson then smacked a two-run homer to left center before the inning continued with back-to-back infield singles. Now with the bases loaded, Brett Nowell placed one into right center for two more runs before Matt Frost doubled in two more runs, bringing the Wildcats to within 22-18.
That is when the umpires deemed the game unsafe to continue due to darkness.
Kendall Small went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while Julian Kurych, Eddie Nevins, Frank Nigro, and Brett Nowell collected two hits each. Brett Nowell led the team with four RBI in his first start at third base.
The Wildcats' run through the Sunshine State Conference continues on Tuesday, as they head to Miami Gardens to take on Barry under the lights. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.