WORCESTER, Mass. - - The Wilmington University baseball team jumped out to a big lead but needed to hang on late to defeat Assumption, 13-10, in the 2022 regular season finale on Tuesday at Rocheleau Field.
The Wildcats (28-10) scored the game's first runs and then led 9-1 after four and a half innings. But the Greyhounds (21-16) scored two in the fifth and five in the sixth to claw back into the game. But the Wildcats had the answers late to stay in front of the Greyhounds to close out the regular season.
Ryan Sandberg struck out seven and is now three strikeouts away from 100 on the season, which would also tie the Wilmington program record for a single season, set by assist coach Joe Harris in 2010. The 97 strikeouts are third most overall and the most since Jamie Treml struck out 96 in 2012.
Quintin Ivy went 2-for-4 with a first inning double, putting runners on second and third. John Mead collected an RBI on a groundout to start the scoring. Shawn Haut followed with a two-out RBI single. Three errors helped the Wildcats to four runs in the top of the second and the Wildcats led, 6-0.
Assumption scored a run in the third, but the Wildcats added three in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. Nic Hertzfeld hit an RBI single and then Jack McDonald followed with a two-run triple and the Wildcats led, 9-1.
The Greyhounds got to the Wildcats' bullpen, using three hits, two walks, and two hit-by-pitches to score five runs in the sixth and cut the deficit to just 9-8.
Quintin Ivy answered with one swing of the bat, hitting a two-run homer to left for his 11th blast of the season. Erik Grady hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth and then Matt Warrington hit a run scoring triple to center to cushion the Wildcats' lead late.
Nic Hertzfeld went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Quintin Ivy finished 2-for-4 with a double and a homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Shawn Haut went 2-for-6 with two RBI while Matt Warrington also went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Ryan Sandberg improved to 8-2 on the year after pitching five innings. Alex Krick picked up his fifth save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one batter.
The Wildcats earned the bye into the double-elimination portion of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament and will next play on Thursday, May 12 at Post University.