NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Battling back and forth and nearly scoring run for run, the Wilmington University baseball team got back in the win column on Tuesday as the Wildcats defeated visiting PSAC foe Millersville, 6-5, at Wilson Field.
Both teams scored three runs in the second inning and Millersville (16-15) scored single runs in the fifth and seventh to tie the game at 5-5 before the Wildcats (14-12) took the ball game with a single run in the bottom of the seventh.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning, the Wildcats found themselves with the bases loaded and two outs after two walks and a single by Jordan Johnson. BJ Janney stepped up and delivered a two-out, bases clearing double to tie the game at 3-3 after two complete.
Wilmington took its first lead of the ball game with two runs in the fourth inning, again scoring the runs with two outs in the inning. Jonathon Rodriguez walked and Johnson singled with his second hit of the game and two batters later Joe Harbach smacked a two-out double scoring both runners.
Ray Gambone came on for Rob Gore to pitch the top of the fifth and quickly got two batters out with a runner on third base. Catcher Matt Lopes caught the Marauders' Evan King leaning off third base, but his pickoff attempt down to third base sailed high and into left field, allowing King to score to make it 5-4.
Millersville eventually tied the game with another single run in the seventh, also coming with two outs in the inning. Lopes threw out Jeff Heisey at second attempting to steal for the first out and reliever Tyler Fries stuck out King for the second out. But Fries put a runner on by a free pass and was standing on third following a stolen base and a passed ball. Zach Stone then smacked a two-out double, bringing the tying run home to make it 5-5.
The Wildcats got a little help from the Marauders' defense in the bottom half of the inning, but made it happen by putting the ball in play. Harbach led off with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Godwin. Now on third after a wild pitch, Jordan Oncay was intentionally walked bring up Lopes with one out. Lopes hit a ground ball and the shortstop mishandled the fielders' choice allowing Harbach to come home with the go-ahead run.
Nick Marick threw the last out of the seventh and shutdown Millersville with a scoreless eighth inning, getting the ball into the hands of his closer, Oncay, for the ninth.
Oncay, who hasn't allowed a run in 22 consecutive appearances dating back to the 2010 season, found himself in a minor jam with two outs. After King worked a one out walk, Stone singled to put the tying run on second with two outs. But Oncay buckled down and struck out Dan Johnson to end the threat and the ball game.
Johnson batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Wildcats, while Janney and Harbach each added two hits. Janney led all batters with three RBI's, hitting his fourth double of the year. Lopes rounded out the Wildcats hits by going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Marics improved to 3-0 on the season by working out of the seventh inning jam. He threw 1.1 innings while striking one batter out and allowing one hit. Tim Racek got the nod on the mound for the Wildcats, throwing the first two innings while giving up three earned runs on five hits. Oncay recorded his conference leading seventh save of the season.
The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Thursday as they host Chestnut Hill for a pair at Wilson Field. Wilmington is 3-6 in the CACC while Chestnut Hill comes in at 15-11 overall and 3-3 in the CACC. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.