SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - - For the first time in the 2014 season, the No. 20 Wilmington University baseball team was swept in a doubleheader, falling, 5-4 and 5-3, in a pair of seven-inning games at Shippensburg on Monday after noon at Fairchild Field.
Both games were won in the late innings for Shippensburg (26-16 overall), as a pair of four-run innings allowed the home team to take control late in each game. The Wildcats (26-7-1 overall) retaliated by putting the tying run into scoring position in each of their final at-bats, but were unable to force the game into extra innings.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first game, getting a two-out run in the first before taking advantage of a two-out error with the bases empty to score two runs in third inning.
With two outs and a runner on first, Matt Lopes kept the top of first alive with a single into center field. Mike Annone took an 0-2 count and singled back up the middle, scoring Frank Samluk with the game's first run.
In the top of the third, Annone reached on a fielding error with two outs, keeping the inning alive. Sam Goines put runners on first and third with an infield single before Brody Tennant scored them both with a double to right center and the 3-0 lead.
The Red Raiders got a run back in the bottom of the third inning, using a two-out, bases empty walk to get spark a rally.
The home team finally got to starter Jay Kluka in the bottom of the sixth, forcing him from the game with a one out walk. Shippensburg then hit four straight extra-base hits off reliever Nick Marics to score four runs in the inning and take a 5-3 lead.
Back-to-back singles but Josh Hampton and Lopes started a rally for the Wildcats in the top of the seventh. Sam Goines worked a two-out walk to load the bases before Tennant beat out a single to first base to score a run and put the tying run at third. But the Raiders' Austin Bartley settled down and got the final out of the game without allowing another run.
Cody Ezolt hurt the Wildcats in the second game, hitting a solo home run in the fourth off starter Jake Wersinger before blasting a three run homer in the fifth inning off reliever Tyler Newton, giving the Red Raiders a 5-0 lead after five innings of play.
The Wildcat offense turned it on in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late as they were only able to score three runs while leaving the tying run on second base.
Tennant started the inning with a double to right, coming around to score the Wildcats' first run on an RBI single from Josh Swirchak. Jon Castro followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Christian Adorno to make it 5-2. Following a pitching change, Hampton singled off Bartley to bring the Wildcats to within two. Mike Jerminski grounded out to second, moving both Castro and Hampton in scoring position with a chance to tie the game.
But once again, Bartley settled into the mound and got the last out of the game, picking up his eighth save of the season for the Red Raiders.
The Wildcats left 10 runners on base in the first game while leaving eight on base in game two.
Lopes batted 2-for-3 in game one while Tennant added a 2-for-4 performance. Castro, Hampton and Jerminski each went 2-for-4 for the Wildcats in the nightcap.
The Wildcats' busy week continues on Tuesday, as they play West Chester in the Bill Giles Invitational Championship game at Citizens Bank Park. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start
Tickets for the game can be purchased at the First Base Gate for $5.00. Fans are encouraged to park in the Phillies "P" Lot, which is located on Darien Street, close to the Darien Street and Pattison Avenue intersection for free. Due to events across the street, please mention parking is for the Bill Giles Invitational in order to not pay a parking fee.
