MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - - The Wilmington University baseball team started the 2022 season with a pair of shutouts over New Haven, 8-0 and 2-0, at the Polo Grounds at the Cal Ripken Experience.
Ryan Sandberg and Rich Albrecht earned wins for the Wildcats (2-0) while the bullpen shut down the Chargers (0-2) in each game down the stretch. It was a homer from a pair of newcomers in each game that proved to be the difference-maker.
GAME 1:
Ryan Sandberg struck out the side in the second inning and then picked up an inning-ending double play to get out of a mini jam in the third. Transfer John Mead put the Wildcats on the board with a well-placed double down the left field line, scoring Nic Hertzfeld for the season's first run.
Sandberg worked around a leadoff double in the fifth and left the tying run on third base in the sixth, picking up his eighth and final strikeout of the game to end the inning.
Nick Nocella beat out a grounder to short to allow Shawn Edevane to score and then Jack McDonald came up with a clutch two-out, two-run single to put the Wildcats ahead, 4-0, after six innings.
Dom Grady worked around two runners on with one out to escape the seventh and then freshman Shawn Edevane blasted one deep into the night in right center for a two-run shot, giving the Wildcats the 6-0 advantage.
Freshman Alex Krick induced a double play and a grounder to get through his first collegiate appearance in the eighth and the Wildcats scored two more insurance runs on a Shawn Haut sacrifice fly and a throwing error allowing the second runner to come home.
Alex Hinton left two on in the ninth to complete the shutout, 8-0.
John Mead led the Wildcats by going 3-for-5 while Jack McDonald and Shawn Edevane had two RBI.
GAME 2:
Rich Albrecht allowed one hit and two walks to reach base in five innings of work, striking out seven batters to earn a win and the sweep of the Chargers.
The sophomore left the bases loaded in the second but then had 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
All the offense for the Wildcats came in the top of the sixth inning, as transfer Nick Nocella hit a hanging curveball well over the fence in left for the 2-0 lead.
Justin Brooks came on in the sixth and set the Chargers down in order and then AJ Stento struck out the side in the seventh to earn his first save as a Wildcat.
John Mead and Shawn Edevane had doubles while JJ Killen and Matt Warrington also collected hits.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return to the Polo Grounds at the Cal Ripken Experience on Saturday as they square off against Molloy. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.