Press Release written by Mitchell Coll
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team scored 13 runs in a critical Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory over crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom Tuesday afternoon at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats have now won 11 straight games, the longest streak since the 2013 team won 13-straight at the end of the 2013 season.
Matt Warrington got the start in the cross-town matchup against the Lightning. After loading the bases, Warrington would strike out the Lightning on three straight strikes to escape the inning unscathed.
Nick Nocella recorded the first hit for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first, scoring Hertzfeld off a fielding error by the Lightning, making it 1-0 Wildcats after one complete inning.
The Lightning had the top of the order in the third. The Lightning had one on from a leadoff base hit. However, Warrington left the runner stranded, forcing Goldey-Beacom to pop up and strike out the next two batters.
McDonald was hit by a pitch and Nocella singled to start a rally in the third. Eddie Perry did his job batting in the clean-up spot by taking the first pitch he saw into right-center, scoring both Wildcats on base. Shawn Haut then stepped up and singled through the left side. Next, Tyler Pirrung had a single RBI, and then JJ Killen cleared the bases with a double to right field, picking up two RBIs. The Wildcats scored five runs on five hits at the end of three, and the 'Cats were up 6-0.
In the top of the fourth, Warrington found himself in a jam with two outs and the bases loaded, as the Lightning had one base hit, reached on fielding, and walked. Despite the bases loading, the Wildcats got out of the inning again without surrendering a run.
With runner on first and third with one, Eddie Parry was at the plate and down in the count 0-2. But Parry took the next pitch over the left-center fence for a three-run home run and a 9-0 lead.
Rich Albrecht came on in relief in the sixth inning for the Wildcats. The Lightning quickly got three on with a base with a double and two walks. After they scored a run on a fielder's choice Albrecht was able to escape the jam without further damage with a couple strikeouts, leaving the bases loaded.
The Lightning scored a run with back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh, but Tyler Brown was able to get out of the jam as the Wildcats continued to lead, 10-3.
The Wildcats were able to put the mercy rule into effect in the seventh inning with a three-run frame. With the bases loaded and one out, Jack McDonald forced in a run with a walk and then Nick Nocella hit a two-run single through the right side, picking up two RBI to end the game due to the 10-run rule.
Up Next:
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow, April 12, for a single nine-inning game at Queens College in Queens, New York. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.