CARY, N.C. - - Strong pitching and a pair of homers led the Wilmington University baseball team to a game one victory over Point Park, 3-0, as the teams split a nonconference doubleheader on Friday at the USA Training Complex.
GAME 1:
Xavier Cortez had his second strong start of the young season, going six scoreless innings while striking out five batters and only allowing six hits and a walk. Chase Fleming then came on and earned the three-inning save, protecting the shutout and giving the Wildcats the 3-0 victory.
At the end of the day, one swing in the bottom of the first was all the Wildcats needed. With two outs and no one on, Zach Frame blasted a ball to right for his first collegiate career home run, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats sent the minimum number of batters to the plate until the sixth inning, where they struck for two more runs. Nick Classie started the bottom of the sixth with a single and then two batters later Brandon Grygo launched a homer to center for the 3-0 lead.
The Pioneers put two on with two outs, but Fleming induced a fly ball to escape the jam. He then worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to close the door and secure the shutout.
GAME 2:
The offense could only muster three hits against the pitching of Ramon Rodriguez and Joey Tedesco, as Point Park picked up the 9-1 win and earn the nonconference split.
The Pioneers scored in every inning except the bottom of the sixth, putting eight hits on the board while walking seven times as well.
Garrett Quinn reached on an error to start the top of the second and then scored on a wild pitch to quickly tie the game, 1-1. But the Pioneers answered back with a two-run single in the bottom of the second to retake the lead. A three-run double in the fourth broke things open, as Point Park grabbed a 7-1 lead.
Kory Pritchard had two of the three hits for the Wildcats in the nightcap, with Tristan Schoendienst came on and hit a pinch hit double as well. Scott Borgmann took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats remain in North Carolina for the rest of the weekend and will play a single game against St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday. The first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. at the USA Training Complex.