NORTH WALES, Pa. - - Chestnut Hill came back late in both games on Saturday, but the Wilmington University Baseball team hung on in the opener, 7-6 in 11 innings, to earn a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference split at Hostelley Field.
GAME 1:
A two-out infield single in the 11th inning saved the Wildcats (11-8, 3-1 CACC) from dropping the opening game after racing out to an early lead. The Wildcats led 6-0 after five innings, but the Griffins answered with four runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth to tie the game.
Garrett Quinn hit an RBI ground out and Nick Classie came up with a two-out single in the second to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Chase Fleming added a two-out RBI single in the third and then Kory Pritchard hit a two-run double in the fourth for the 5-0 lead. Classie added a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth.
Xavier Cortez allowed one hit through the first five innings, but the Griffins got to the sophomore in the sixth. A leadoff walk came around to score on a wild pitch and then the Griffins hit a three-run homer, cutting into the Wildcats lead, 6-4. The Griffins then loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but Alex Krick limited the damage to a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, getting a double play to escape the inning still tied, 6-6.
The Griffins doubled in each of the ninth and 10th frames, but the Wildcats staff got out of both jams. JJ Killen started the 11th by reaching on an error and pinch runner CJ Nocella was moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Tristan Schoendienst. Chase Fleming beat out a ground to the right side and Nocella never stopped running. He turned third and the throw from first was too late to the plate as Nocella scored for the 7-6 lead.
Dom Marotta left a leadoff runner on second in the bottom of the 11th, as the Wildcats won the opener, 7-6.
Chase Fleming went 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kory Pritchard went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI while Brandon Grygo, AJ Tropiano, and Nick Classie all had two hits as well. Classie added two RBI in the win.
GAME 2:
Chestnut Hill scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to come back and take a 7-5 victory in the nightcap. The Wildcats scored three in the third and two in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead, but the Griffins fought back with the final five runs of the game to earn the CACC split.
The Griffins put single runs on the board in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Brandon Grygo put the Wildcats on the board in the top of the third with an RBI single and then Tyler Pirrung hit a bases loaded single to tie the game, 2-2. Josearmando Diaz gave the Wildcats the lead with a sacrifice fly, 3-2.
Justin Hernandez kept the top of the fourth alive with a single and then Brandon Grygo launched a two-run homer to left center to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
But the Griffins answered right back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on three hits to get within 5-4. The Griffins then scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch, a ground-rule double, and a single.
The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but the Griffins induced a double play to end the game, 7-5.
Brandon Grygo went 3-for-4 with three RBI while Pirrung, Diaz, and Hernandez had the other three hits.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats and Griffins switch field and complete their CACC four-game set at Wilson Field on Sunday. The first pitch of game one is set for 12:00 p.m. in New Castle, Delaware.