NORRISTOWN, Pa. - - Big innings helped lead the No. 22 ranked Wilmington University baseball team to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep at Chestnut Hill, 7-3, and 22-10, on Friday afternoon at Latshaw-McCarthy Field.
The Wildcats (18-8, 7-3 CACC) set a new single game record in the nightcap on Friday, hitting nine doubles in the game. That broke the record of seven doubles set four different times, the most recent coming at Bloomfield in 2014.
Game One:
In the first game, it was a four-run seventh inning that was the difference maker, turning a 3-3 tie-game into a 7-3 advantage.
The Griffins (9-15, 4-6 CACC) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on an RBI double and a two-run single with one out.
Julian Kurych put the Wildcats on the board in the top of the fourth, hitting his third homer of the year. Brooks Ryan doubled to start the fifth and Kendall Small brought him in with his own double. Now with two outs, Max Carney tied the game with an RBI single, bringing in Eddie Nevins from second base.
A two-out rally gave the Wildcats the lead in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Dan Hyatt singled into left, scoring both Nevins and Luke Johnson. Frank Nigro was hit by a pitch to reload the bases and Brooks Ryan took advantage with another two-run single to left.
Starter Sean Deely worked around a leadoff double in the seventh and left two on in his final inning on the mound. Zach Frederick left a two-out double on in the eighth and Justin Mears closed out the game while leaving two on in the ninth.
Brooks Ryan went 3-for-5 with two RBI while Kendall Small, Julian Kurych, and Dan Hyatt all had two hits in the game. Small had two doubles in the contest.
Game Two:
The scoring started early for the Wildcats in the nightcap, putting four on the board in the first and six more in the second. But it was an 11-run fifth inning that separated the Wildcats and led them to the sweep.
The doubles started in the top of the first, all with two outs and the bases empty. Eddie Nevins doubled in Kendall Small before Max Carney doubled for the 2-0 lead. Luke Johnson had an RBI single before Julian Kurych hit the third double of the inning to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
Kendall Small had a two-run double in the second before Luke Johnson and Julian Kurych had back-to-back RBI doubles with two outs. Joey Cautillo capped the scored in the second with an RBI single, giving the Wildcats a 10-2 lead.
With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth. Luke Johnson started the 11th run inning with an infield single. Now with two outs, Joe Cautillo continued the inning with an RBI single before Dakota Graham added another RBI single. Kendall Small cleared the bases with another double before Brett Nowell got in on the action with an RBI single of his own. When it was all said and done, the Wildcats led 21-5.
Dan Hyatt pitched the first five innings for the Wildcats, earning the win to improve to 5-1 on the year. He allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits.
Kendall Small and Julian Kurych had two doubles each while Dakota Graham, Brock Nowell, Eddie Nevins, Max Carney and Luke Johnson also had a double in the game to help set the record.
Kurych and Small led the way with five RBI each while Johnson added three. Carney and Cautillo chipped in with two RBI each.
Up Next:
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday when they come back to Wilson Field for another CACC doubleheader. The Wildcats welcome Bloomfield to New Castle with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.