SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - - Six extra-base hits in the nightcap allowed the Wilmington University baseball team to split with Slippery Rock on Friday, falling in the opener, 7-4, before winning the nightcap, 13-10, At Critchfield Park.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (7-8) fought back to take the lead, 4-3, with a three-run sixth inning, but the Rock (8-4) retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the seven-inning first game.
The Wildcats struck first in the third, as Matt Warrington started the inning with a double. Nic Hertzfeld brought him in with an RBI single two batters later. But a Slippery Rock two-run homer in the bottom of the third gave the home team a 2-1 lead. A two-out double in the bottom of the fourth gave Slippery Rock a 3-1 lead after four complete.
Eddie Parry started the sixth with a single and he quickly scored as JJ Killen homered to tie the game, 3-3. Trevor Adamo re-sparked the inning with a walk and then came home on a Matt Warrington sacrifice fly as the Wildcats founds themselves on top, 4-3.
But the lead didn't last, as Slippery Rock scored four runs on four hits and an error, all with two outs in the inning. They tied the game with a wild pitch and then a two-out single, single, and triple brought in three more to give the home team a 7-4 lead.
JJ Killen went 2-for-3 with a double and a homer and two RBI while Nic Hertzfeld and Matt Warrington had RBI as well. Matt Boyko went the first 5.2 innings, striking out nine while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats scored 10 runs in three at-bats, collecting six extra-base hits in the nightcap to earn the split. The Wildcats had 13 hits overall and hung on in the final innings as Slippery Rock scored three in the bottom of the eighth to make it close.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 lead, but Slippery Rock scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to regain a 6-5 lead. They added another run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-5 before the Wildcats' offense took over.
With two outs and no runners on, Trevor Adamo sparked a four-run top of the sixth with a double. CJ Deery singled to center for the first run and then an error kept the inning alive to put runners on first and second for Jack McDonald. He turned on a pitch and launched a three-run homer to right, giving the Wildcats a 9-7 lead.
Justin Barcosko relieved Kyle Maxwell in the bottom of the sixth and left the bases loaded after getting two quick outs. The offense came back up and put three more runs on the board by using four hits in the seventh.
With two outs and JJ Killen on second, Tristan Schoendienst doubled in a run to start the scoring. Trevor Adamo hit his second double of the game for an RBI and then Nick Classie singled into center to make it 12-7.
Three walks loaded the bases in the top of the eighth for Slippery Rock and they scored three runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, but Dom Grady picked up a strikeout to lead the tying runs on base. He then went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
Jack McDonald went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI while Trevor Adamo went 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. JJ Killen collected two more hits, going 2-for-5. Kyle Maxwell went the first five innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, striking out four.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats and the Rock closed their three-game series on Saturday with a single nine-inning game. The first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Critchfield Park.