CARY, N.C. - - A three-run bottom of the sixth was all Adelphi needed in defeating the Wilmington University baseball team, 3-1, on Friday afternoon at the USA Baseball Complex.
The Wildcats (4-5) scored a run in the top of the fifth to support starter Xavier Cortez, but the Panthers (5-3) answered with a three-run bottom of the sixth to come back and defeat the Wildcats.
Xavier Cortez went six strong innings, striking out seven batters while allowing the three runs on six hits. Scott Borgmann came on and tossed two scoreless innings to keep the Wildcats in the contest.
Justin Hernandez started the top of the fifth with a one-out single. Brand Grygo made it first and second with a single and then Kory Pritchard singled through the left side, putting the Wildcats on the board as Hernandez came around to score. Grygo tried moving up to third on the throw, but we gunned down to slow down the rally.
The Wildcats had a chance to add on in the sixth, putting the first two runners on with a Chase Fleming single and a walk by Cam Trego. But the Panthers got the next three batters out, leaving runners on second and third.
The Panthers answered in the bottom half, starting with a double, an RBI triple, and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead. A double and a single later and the Panthers were on top, 3-1.
The Wildcats had a one-out walk in the top of the seventh, but that would be the final base runner for the Wildcats as the Panthers closed out the win.
Chase Fleming went 2-for-4 while five other Wildcats had one hit each.
The Wildcats remain in Cary, North Carolina, for the rest of the weekend, playing against St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday. The opening pitch it scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the USA Complex.