Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University Wildcats and Jefferson University Rams battled rainy conditions all afternoon and were able to complete game one of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader as the Wildcats defeated the Rams in an offensive battle, 15-8, at Wilson Field Saturday afternoon.
The start of the game was delayed an hour and half and game two didn't begin until 5:30. More rain, thunder, and lightning came in the second inning of game two, forcing a stoppage and the cancellation of the nightcap. The game will be replayed, from the beginning, at a later date.
The Wildcats' (11-11, 4-1 CACC) bats started hot as the first four batters produced in a big way. Nic Hertzfeld, the leadoff hitter for the Wildcats, did his job by getting on base with a single through the left side. Next, Jack McDonald earned a walk, and Nick Nocella sacrificed Hertzfeld and McDonald over to second and third. Eddie Parry batted in the clean-up spot today and did just that, as Perry cleared the bases with a three-run shot to right field. The 'Cats were up three after one inning of play.
Tyler Reinert started on the mound in game one and pitched 5.1 innings and gave up four runs, but only two were earned. Reinert threw three up and three down innings in both the second and fifth inning. In the fifth, Reinert closed out the top half of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
In the sixth, the Rams scored four runs on three hits as they regained the lead, 6-5, and added two more in the top of the seventh to go up by three, 8-5. However, the Wildcats bats awakened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring seven runs on seven Wildcat hits. The Wildcats batted 12 times in the innings and were highlighted by five singles that all led to RBI. The seven runs put the game out of reach for the Rams as the Wildcats scored an additional three runs in the eighth inning.
Tyler Brown and Dom Grady closed out the game on the mound well by only giving up three hits. Brown earned the win in 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits and two strikeouts. Grady closed the game well, giving up only one hit and striking out three.
Eddie Parry and Jack McDonald homered int eh game while Nic Hertzfeld and Erik Grady led with three hits each. Hertzfeld, Parry, and Matt Warrington all finished with three RBI.
The Wildcats will be back in action tomorrow, April 2, as they take on Caldwell in two seven-inning games. The games are set for a 1:00 and 3:00 start.
