PHILADEPHIA, Pa. - - Xavier Cortez struck out 11 in eight innings in leading the Wilmington University baseball team to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference split with nationally ranked No. 18 Jefferson on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
GAME 1:
Xavier Cortez set a new career high with 11 strikeouts in the opener, throwing eight shutout innings with only allowing four hits and a walk. He struck out 10 in seven innings against Indiana (Pa.) earlier this season.
Cortez took the mound with a lead on Saturday, as Brandon Grygo led off the game with his third homer of the season. Cortez recorded five strikeouts in the first two innings and then the Wildcats added to the lead in third. Josearmando Diaz hit a two-out, two-run single into center, scoring Grygo and Tyler Pirrung for the 3-0 lead.
The Rams left a runner on third in the fifth, but then didn't threat again until the ninth.
Nick Classie homered to leadoff the seventh inning and then Shawn Edevane led off the top of the ninth with a homer to make it 5-0.
The Rams scored twice in the bottom of the ninth, but closed out the victory with two more punchouts.
Shawn Edevane had a homer and double, going 2-for-4. Brandon Grygo and Nick Classie also went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the game. Cortez improved to 4-1 on the season with the win.
GAME 2:
Brandon Grygo gave the Wildcats the lead with another leadoff homer, but the Rams scored in four consecutive innings to take over.
The Rams tied the game in the top of the second after a leadoff walk came around to score. The Rams then hit a three-run homer in the third and two two-run homers in the fourth to break open the lead, 8-1.
Shawn Edevane hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth, but that's all the offense would muster the rest of the way. The Rams added two more runs in the fifth as the Wildcats went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings for the split.
Nick Classie went 2-for-2 while Grygo and Edevane each had an RBI.
UP NEXT:
the Wildcats and Rams get right back to action on Sunday, this time playing a CACC doubleheader at Wilson Field. The first pitch of the twinbill Is set for 12:00 p.m.