NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Missed opportunities was the name of the game for the Wilmington University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon, as nationally ranked No. 19 West Chester got away with a 5-4 victory at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats (11-4) couldn't capitalize with the bases loaded in multiple innings on Tuesday, and had runners on first and third and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, leaving the tying run 90 feet away.
Quintin Ivy started the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the first but the Golden Rams (16-3) answered right back with a run in the top of the second. The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but they could only muster one run on a Jack McDonald sacrifice fly to regain a 2-1 lead.
The Rams came right back against starter Ryan Sandberg, scoring on a ground out to second and sacrifice fly, taking the 3-2 lead. A leadoff triple in the fifth scored for the visitors and then another run came home on a chopper to third and West Chester led 5-2 after five innings.
The West Chester reliever walked the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but the Wildcats could only get one run out of the situation once again, as Nick Nocella walked to force in a run. The Rams used an inning ending double play to escape further damage.
Alex Hinton struck out the side in the top of the eighth and the Wildcats tried to rally once against in the bottle of the frame. Shawn Edevane hit a one-out double and then CJ Deery hit an infield single to put two runners on. Matt Warrington worked a walk to again load the bases and then Nick Nocella chopped one to second, beating out the relay to first, and allowing a run to score for a 5-4 deficit. But Jack McDonald grounded out to end the inning, keeping the Wildcats down one run.
Quintin Ivy and John Mead started the ninth with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and third with no outs. But then Shawn Haut fouled and Adrian Jimenez grounded into a double play to end the game.
Quintin Ivy went 2-for-4 with an RBI while John Mead went 2-for-5. Nick Nocella had two RBI as well. Justin Brooks, Devin McClendon, Alex Hinton, and Alex Krick all had scoreless innings of relief for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats turn right around and play Wednesday afternoon against another PSAC opponent, as they host Millersville at Wilson Field. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.