BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - - Rounding out its 2013 nonconference schedule, the Wilmington University baseball team scored six unanswered runs to capture its ninth straight victory, a 6-1 win over Bridgeport in a makeup game on Monday afternoon at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
The Wildcats (36-12 overall) scored the game's tying run in the top of the fourth before tallying four in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good. Wilmington added a run in the top of the ninth as insurance before shutting the Purple Knights (18-21 overall) down for the final six innings.
Sophomore starter Ray Gambone went seven innings to record his seventh victory of the season, striking out four while allowing a run on five hits. He is now 7-1 on the year. He allowed a safety squeeze bunt to score a run in the bottom of the third, but shut the Knights down the rest of the way. He turned the ball over to Peter Monahan who threw a scoreless eighth before Tim Racek struck out a batter in closing out the contest in the ninth.
Josh Hampton went 4-for-4 with his fourth home run of the year, a solo shot to kick start the four run sixth inning and give the Wildcats the lead for good. He also added to his single season mark with two more doubles, totaling 24 on the year.
The game tying run came with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the fourth inning, as Jonathan Rodriguez doubled down the right field line to get the rally going. Sam Goines followed suit with an RBI single to center to knot the game at 1-1.
Hampton then led off the top of the sixth with a homer to left field and the 2-1 lead. Now with the bases loaded following singles by Rodriguez and Goines, and a Bridgeport error, Joe El-Bisi worked a walk to force in run. Kyle Lindstrom was hit by a pitch to force in another run and Jon Castro flied out to center, but deep enough to score Brandon Payne on the sacrifice fly. The Wildcats grabbed a 5-1 lead when all said and done.
Gambone worked his way through the bottom of the sixth after giving up a one out hit and again through the seventh as he allowed a one out walk to produce another quality start.
With two outs in the ninth, Hampton started another rally with his second double of the day. Matt Loped traded placed with Hampton one batter later, giving the Wildcats a 6-1 lead with only three outs remaining. Racek took care of the rest in the bottom of the ninth.
On top of Hampton's four hits, Rodriguez and Goines also produced multiple hits on the afternoon, while Lopes and Lindstrom rounded out the 10 Wildcat knocks.
The 36 wins are only one off the all-time Wilmington record, as the 2011 team went 37-12. The Wildcats will have a chance to tie the record in their final Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and regular season game, a single nine-inning contest against Philadelphia on Wednesday at Wilson Field. The team will play for the CACC Regular Season Championship starting at 3 p.m.