MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - - The Wilmington University closed out its opening weekend of play with a 12-3 victory over Southern Connecticut State at the Ripken Experience on Sunday afternoon.
After the Owls (2-5) scored a pair in the bottom of the first inning, the Wildcats (3-1) responded with 10 unanswered to finish their first trip of the season with a winning record.
Making his collegiate debut, redshirt freshman John Grybowski allowed a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the first, but then settled in and pitched four more innings. He only allowed the two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
The offense answered right back in the top of the second, getting a two-run double from Brandon Grygo to tie the game. Brian Klumpp and Cam Trego put runners on second and third to start the top of the third inning and Ryan Kiendle gave the Wildcats the lead for good with a. sacrifice fly. Stephen Katch added an RBI single and scored a batter later on an error, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
Chase Fleming hit an opposite-field homer to lead off the fourth and then the Wildcats put the game away with a four-run sixth inning. Klumpp hit a two-run single and then Cam Trego added another RBI single. Klumpp then scored after a double steal and an error, and all of a sudden, the Wildcats were leading 10-2.
Brayden Hostetter had an RBI groundout in the seventh and then Tre Villanova hit his first collegiate career homer in the top of the ninth, capping the scoring for the Wildcats.
Zack Czarnecki, Daviel Fernandez, and Scott Borgmann all threw scoreless innings of relief for the Wildcats. Borgmann struck out the side in the ninth to close out the game.
Brandon Grygo, Brian Klumpp, Cam Trego, and Stephen Katch all had two hits for the Wildcats with Grygo and Klumpp leading with two RBI each.
The Wildcats head to North Carolina next weekend to play four more nonconference games. They will play at the USA Complex in Cary, starting on Friday against Pitt-Johnstown. The first pitch is at 11:00 a.m.
