NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A six-run top of the fourth inning allowed Chestnut Hill to pull away from the Wilmington University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon at Wilson Field, leading to a 12-3 loss in the first game of the three-game Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference series.
The Wildcats (14-13, 3-5 CACC) could only muster three runs on six hits against the Griffins (10-22, 4-8 CACC) stater Jake Schweiker, as he struck out six and walked three.
After the Griffins grabbed the lead with a solo homer in the top of the third inning, the Wildcats answered right back with a two-run bottom half. Brandy Grygo started the third with a leadoff double before Sean Glatts beat out a bunt single. Zach Walker than executed a squeeze bunt for the first run before Jack McDonald hit an RBI ground out to make it 2-1.
Looking for the shutdown inning in the top of the fourth, starter Scott Borgmann allowed two singles to start the inning. An RBI groundout tied the game and put two outs on the board with a runner on third, but the Wildcats couldn't find the third out. The Griffins went double, single, single, double, single to put five more runs on the board, taking a 7-2 lead.
Brandon Grygo started the fifth inning with a triple, looking to spark the Wildcats. Sean Glatts hit a sacrifice fly and then Zach Walker restarted the inning with a single. But the Griffins right fielder squashed a rally with an over the shoulder catch up against the fence to rob Mason DeLuca and end the inning with the Wildcats only scoring the one run.
The Griffins then responded with another homer in the top of the fifth and put the game away with four unearned runs in the top of the seventh, taking a 12-3 lead.
Grygo batted 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Sean Glatts, Zach Walker, and Jack McDonald all had RBI for the Wildcats. Steven Mann and Justin Barcoski had scoreless outings of relief for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats have a chance to shake off the loss by getting back out and playing on Wednesday afternoon. They head to Bridgeport to make up the cross divisional doubleheader from Sunday. The first pitch at the Purple Knights is set for 1:00 p.m.