Video Recap at bottom of page
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A Saturday Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep not only gave the Wilmington University baseball team an eight-game winning streak, the game one victory was head coach Brian August's 500th career victory, defeating Caldwell, 12-1 and 8-5, at Wilson Field.
Now in his 19th year at the helm of the Wildcats, Brian August is now 501-319-2 for a .611 win percentage as the only coach in Wilmington's NCAA Division II era. As on the NCAA's 2022 Coaches Record Book, he is the 53rd coach to record 500 career wins in NCAA DII.
GAME 1:
It didn't take long to realize Brian August had a chance at No. 500 in the opener, as the Wildcats (10-2, 3-0 CACC) came out and put three on the board in the bottom of the first. They added three-run innings in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings as well to control the contest and win, 12-1.
John Mead started an outstanding afternoon with a two-run double that landed just inside the right-field line in the bottom of the first. Nick Nocella scored easily while Quintin Ivy raced all the way around from first for the 2-0 lead. Shawn Haut followed with an RBI single and the Wildcats were off and running.
The same placement in the order was at the again in the third, as Jack McDonald and Ivy got on base to start the frame. Shawn Haut then doubled to the gap in right center, again chasing Quintin Ivy all the way around the bases to score from first base. Shawn Edevane followed with a two-out RBI and the Wildcats were leading 6-0.
John Mead put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a laser shot over the fence in right that got out quick for a three-run homer.
Rich Albrecht improved to 2-0 on the year with the win on the mound, throwing five innings while allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk. He struck out four batters in the win. Justin Barcoski and Alex Hinton followed with scoreless innings of relief.
GAME 2:
Caldwell (5-8, 0-2 CACC) tried to turn the tide in the nightcap, coming out of the gates and scoring a run in the top of the first. But starter Kyle Maxwell only allowed the one run in the inning and kept the Cougars off the board again until the office came alive in the fourth inning.
JJ Killen started the scoring with a two-run single under the glove of the third baseman in the hole. Erik Grady hit a fly ball to center but deep enough to score Killen for the 3-0 lead. An error allowing the Wildcats to plate another in the inner, taking a 4-1 lead after four full.
John Mead made sure the Cougars couldn't come back late in the game, launching another able to right for his second three-run homer of the day and the 7-1 lead. Adrian Jimenez hit a single into left center later in the inning, scoring Haut and giving the Wildcats an 8-1 cushion.
Caldwell got back into the test with four runs in the sixth inning, eventually knocking Maxwell out of the contest. Alex Krick came on and picked up the final out, leaving two runners on as the Cougars only closed to within 8-5.
AJ Stento put the first two batters of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but he settled in an induced a ground ball and back-to-back fly balls to end the game and earn his fourth save of the year.
Maxwell improved to 1-1 on the year with the win, going 5.2 innings while allowing five runs on seven hits. He struck out four in his outing.
Nick Nocella and Adrian Jimenez had two hits each while Mead led with three RBI.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats get right back to action on Sunday, as they complete their three-game series with the Jefferson Rams. They travel to Philadelphia to play a nine and seven-inning doubleheader, with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.