NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team rebounded from a game-one loss to earn a split with the University of the Sciences, 1-10 and 3-2, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at Wilson Field on Tuesday afternoon.
With the split the Wildcats improved to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in the CACC while the Sciences improved to 5-9 overall and 1-3 in the CACC.
The Wildcats ran into a buzz saw in the first game and were unable to get anything going against Devil starter Dan McMahon. Last week's CACC Pitcher and NCBWA East Region Pitcher of the Week, McMahon continued his dominance in the past two weeks while throwing a complete game, giving up one run in the eighth inning while striking out seven and giving up six hits.
The Devils picked up a run in the top of the first inning with their first two batters of the contest, as Wildcat starter Ryan Lally gave up a leadoff double inside the third base bag and a single inside the first base bag to make it 1-0 after the first.
The scored remained 1-0 as the two pitchers settled in and cruised to the fourth inning. The Wildcats had a chance in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game and even put more runs on the board as Mike Godwin singled to lead off the inning. Jordan Oncay put two runners on with a walk and both runners moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Bryan Miller. But McMahon got Kyle Hitchen to line out to second and Adam Soley to ground out to end the threat.
The Sciences struck with two runs in the top of the fifth, starting a two-out and bases empty rally. Ronnie Petito knocked in two runs with a single as Lally walked two and had the inning extended by an error to lead to the two runs.
The Devils opened the game up in the sixth, scoring seven runs (five runs) to take a commanding 10-0 lead. The Wildcats were able to scratch a run across to break up the shutout in the bottom of the eighth on a two out single by Joe El-Bisi, but it wasn't enough as the Devils took game on, 10-1.
Tim Racek got the nod for the Wildcats in game two and only gave up two runs through the first five innings to breathe life into Wilmington for the split. He gave up two runs in the sixth, but handed the ball over to Justin DeLong who threw three scoreless innings to get the ball into the hands of closer Jordan Oncay.
The Wildcats struck first in game two, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead of the day. Brendan Fallers started the two-run inning with a one-out single. Joe Harbach put runners on first and third with another single before Godwin smashed a double, easily scoring both runners to make it 2-0.
Racek caught himself in a jam in the next half inning, allowing a leadoff walk and back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 2-2. DeLong came on and recorded consecutive looking strikeouts and a pop up to escape the inning without any further damage.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Hitchens triple with a bullet to left-center field to put the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Joe Marciano chopped one to short and an errant throw to the plate by the shortstop allowed Hitchens to touch home to make it 3-2.
That score would hold until Wildcat closer Oncay came on in the ninth. Oncay continued his dominance on the mound, picking up his fourth save of the season, setting the Devil down in order to extend his streak 20 straight appearances without giving up a run, dating back to the 2010 season.
Harbach extended his season long hitting streak to 11 games by going 1-for-3 with a double and a run in game one and 2-for-4 with a run scored in game two. Hitchens finished 1-for-4 in game one and went 2-for-3 in game two with a triple and a run scored.
DeLong improved to 3-0 on the season for the Wildcats, only giving up two hits while striking out four in three innings of relief.
The Wildcats will have a chance to add another to the win column on Wednesday when they head to Pennsylvania to take on PSAC foe West Chester in a single, nine-inning contest. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
