MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - - For the sixth time in the past 10 years, the Wilmington University baseball team has started the season with back-to-back wins, sweeping Franklin Pierce, 13-2 (7) and 4-2, on Friday night on Griffith Field at the Ripken Experience.
Chase Fleming starred for the Wildcats (2-0) with six RBI in the doubleheader while both starting pitchers dazzled on the mound. Xavier Cortez struck out eight in five innings in game one before Brody Gebhard made his collegiate debut with nine punchouts in five perfect innings in game two.
GAME 1:
A six-run fifth inning broke things open for the Wildcats, as they came out of the gates with a 12-hit effort. Three more runs in the top of the sixth put the mercy rule into effect and Scott Borgmann finished off the game with five punchouts over the final two innings.
Chase Fleming started his season with an RBI single in the top of the first and then Garrett Quinn made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout in the second. The Ravens tied it with two runs in the bottom of the second, but Cortez got out of the jam with an inning ending double play.
Jordan Santiago gave the Wildcats the lead for good with an RBI single in the third, and then scored after stealing third and an error. Justin Hernandez started the scoring in the fifth with an RBI double. Tyler Pirrung walked in a run and then Fleming hit a two-run double to make it 8-2. Brandon Grygo got into the action with an RBI single in the sixth before Chase Fleming had another two-run double, capping his five RBI game.
Xavier Cortez went the first five innings, striking out eight while only allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. Scott Borgmann struck out five in two innings of work, only allowing one hit. Chase Fleming finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI while Justin Hernandez was the only other Wildcat with multiple hits.
GAME 2:
Game two was a tighter contest and freshman Brody Gebhard was up to the task in his collegiate debut. The Wildcats scored single runs in the first and third innings, but it was a Brett Walmsley two-run double in the bottom of the sixth that proved to be the difference maker.
Chase Fleming picked up his sixth RBI of the day with an RBI groundout in the first and then Tyler Pirrung made a 2-0 game with an RBI groundout in the third.
Brody Gebhard went a perfect five innings, not allowing a single base runner. He struck out nine of the 15 batters he faced, including striking out five straight from the second to fourth innings.
The Wildcats put the first two batters on the sixth and had runners on second and third with two outs. Brett Walmsley then sliced a double down the right field line, adding a pair of insurance runs for the 4-0 lead.
Those runs would be huge, as the Raven hit a double and a home run to start the seventh. Brandon Grygo came on and got two outs, but the Ravens put runners on first and second. Garrett Quinn came on and induce a ground ball, picking up the save. Quinn was also the only batter to collect two hits in game two.
UP NEXT:
The Northeast Challenge continues all weekend in Myrtle Beach as the Wildcats take on D'Youville on Saturday afternoon. They play on the Polo Grounds with an expected first pitch at 4:00 p.m.
