LYNDHURST, N.J. - - If only the seventh inning could have been skipped over in each game of Sunday's baseball doubleheader would the Wilmington University baseball team been able to come out on top, but Felician took both ends, 3-1 and 4-2, to sweep the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference series.
The Wildcats (13-12, 3-6 CACC) held the lead in each of the games through the first six innings, but Felician (13-16, 6-2 CACC) scored two runs in the seventh inning of game one and three runs in the seventh inning of game two to take control and earn the sweep.
With Wilmington starter Jamie Treml cruising, the Wildcats gave him a lead with a single run in the third inning. Kyle Hitchen led off the inning with a single through the right side. Jonathon Rodriguez moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt and BJ Janney put runners on first and third with an infield single and one out. Jordan Johnson knocked in the run with a fielder's choice, putting the Wildcats up 1-0.
Rodriguez came up again in the fourth with two on and two out and worked an eight pitch walk to load the bases for the top of the order. But the Golden Falcon starter Brian Dudzinksi induced a groundout to end the inning and get out of the threat unscathed.
Treml, who only allowed a hit in the first and fourth innings, ran into trouble in the seventh. Felician put runners on first and third with one out following two singles, and Mike Farrell tied the game with a single down the left field line. Still with only one out, the Falcons loaded the bases when the Wildcats went to the bullpen as Nick Marics replaced Treml on the mound. Marics got the ground ball he was looking for, but the Wildcats were unable to turn the double play, recording only one out at second as the go-ahead run came across the plate.
Felician added another run in the eighth inning to make it 3-1 and the Wildcats could only muster one hit in their final two at-bats before succumbing to the final score.
Dudzinki went all nine innings for the Falcons, picking up four strikeouts while only giving up the one run on five hits. Treml fell to 2-2 on the year, throwing 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He struck out nine in the game one loss.
The second game was another pitcher's duel through the first half of the contest as Dave Hatt threw the first five innings for the Wildcats. He gave up a single run in the bottom of the fifth but the Wildcats quickly responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to give Hatt the no decision.
Janney led off the sixth with a single up the middle and back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Wildcats with one out. Bryan Miller looped one down the right field line but only deep enough to score one run and keep the bases loaded. Matt Lopes then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Joe Harbach for the go-ahead run.
Justin DeLong came on in relief after Hatt, and threw a scoreless sixth inning but ran into trouble with two outs in the seventh. With runners on first and third, DeLong unraveled a wild pitch scoring the tying run from third. After another pitching change, George Hajjar took the first pitch he saw from Ryan Lally into left field, scoring the go-ahead and eventual game-winner. The Falcons tacked on one more in the inning on a throwing error as Hajjar was attempting to steal second base.
Felician freshman hurler Chet Godfrey retired all nine batters he faced to finish off the Wildcats, giving The Falcons the doubleheader sweep. The wins marked the first doubleheader sweep of Wilmington by Felician in the 13-year history of the Golden Falcon program.
Janny finished 4-for-8 on the afternoon while Miller went 2-for-5, and Mike Godwin, Hitchens and Matt Lopes added one hit apiece in the two games, rounding out the Wildcats offense.
Wilmington returns to the diamond on Tuesday, as the Wildcats go back to facing another PSAC oppennt when they welcome Millersville to Wilson field in nonconference action. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.