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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Matt Warrington pitched the Wilmington University baseball team to a 9-1 victory to open a key Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division series against Jefferson on Thursday afternoon at Wilson Field.
The senior pitched 8.0 innings while only allowing a solo homer and striking out eight batters. The offense produced nine runs on nine hits, scoring three runs in three separate innings. The win pushed the Wildcats (21-14, 10-5 CACC) into a three-way tie atop the CACC South Division with the Rams (22-12, 10-5 CACC) and Goldey-Beacom (26-13, 10-5 CACC).
The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third. A hit by pitch brought in the first run and then the Wildcats scored on a Chase Fleming sacrifice fly and a Zach Walker RBI single.
The CACC leader in homers Josh Lopez led off the top of the fourth with his 16th homer of the season, but that would be all the Rams would get in the contest.
The Wildcats added three more in the bottom of the fifth, starting with runners on second and third with one out. An error on a throw to the plate allowed Jack McDonald to score and then Kory Pritchard scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 5-1. Another wild pitch allowed Chase Fleming to score with two outs, giving the Wildcats a 6-1 lead after five full innings.
After Warrington set the Rams down in order in the top of the sixth, the Wildcats went back to work and scored three more runs. The offense loaded the bases without recording an out and then Chase Fleming hit a two-run single back up the middle. Erik Grady then hit a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring, 9-1.
The Wildcats had chances to end the game early but left two runners on in each the seventh and eighth innings. Warrington turned the ball over to Garrett Quinn who worked around two runners on base to keep the game at 9-1.
Kory Pritchard went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Chase Fleming batted 2-for-4 with three RBI while Jack McDonald went 1-for-2 with a walk, a hit by pitch, and three runs scored. Warrington improved to 5-2 on the year with the win.
The three-game series now moves to Philadelphia as the two teams play a doubleheader at Jefferson on Saturday. The first pitch of the twinbill is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
