MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - - Tyler Pirrung's two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth held firm as the Wilmington University baseball team defeated Barry, 5-4, on Wednesday night at Feinbloom Field to start its Florida Trip off on the right foot.
It is the first time in the program's NCAA era the Wildcats (7-2) got the better of the Bucs (9-10). They were 0-6 prior to tonight but haven't met since the 2019 season.
Tyler Pirrung hit a two-out single into right center, scoring Matt Warrington from second in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. Dom Grady walked the first batter of the bottom of the ninth inning, but got a sacrifice bunt, a ground out, and a fly ball to leave the tying run at third base.
Barry started the game with a run in the bottom of the first, getting a one-out single and a two-out double to opening the scoring.
The ability to stand to their ground led to four runs in the third inning for the Wildcats, Sean Glatts, Pirrun, Mason DeLuca, and Trevor Adamo were all hit by a pitch in the inning, with the last three bring in a run each time. Zach Walker then chopped one over the head of the pitcher to score Pirrung and the Wildcats were leading 4-1. Barry quickly answered, however, scoring on a wild pitch and a single to cut into the deficit. Alec Roselli came on and induced a 6-4-3 double play to escape further damage.
The Wildcats had chances to add runs, but runners were thrown out at the plate in the fourth and seventh innings. The Bucs scored in the sixth inning, hitting a double and a single in back-to-back batters to tie the game, 4-4.
Matt Warrington reached on an error to start the ninth and Sean Glatts moved him up to second with a sacrifice bunt. Now with two on and two out, Tyler Pirrung lined one over the head of the second baseman to score Warrington for the go-ahead run.
Tyler Pirrung went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Warrington scored two runs.
Garrett Quinn pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the victory while Dom Grady picked up his third win of the season. Brandon Grygo, Alec Roselli, Steven Mann, Justin Barcoski, and Xavier Cortez all had scoreless outing for the Wildcats in the win.
The Wildcats move up the coast and play at Lynn on Thursday afternoon. The game in Boca Raton is set for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.