DAVENPORT, Fla. - - The Wilmington University baseball team closed out its 2026 trip to the Sunshine State with a 7-2 loss to Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday morning at the NorthEast Regional Park.
Tied 2-2 through five innings, the Mavericks, who received votes in this week's NCBWA National Poll, scored five runs in their final three at-bats to take over the contest.
The 19th ranked Wildcats struck first against the Mavericks, getting a run in the top of the first. Brandon Grygo started the game with a single and then Chase Fleming was hit by a pitch to put two on. Now with two outs, Brian Klumpp reached on an error, allowing Grygo to score for the game's first run.
The Mavericks answered with two runs in the bottom of the second. A one out double tied the game, 1-1, and then a sacrifice fly gave the Mavericks a 2-1 lead off starter John Grybowski.
Wilmington tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth. Tyler Pirrung started the inning with a walk and was moved up on a Justin Hernandez sacrifice bunt. After Pirrung stole third, Garrett Quinn lifted a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game, 2-2.
The Mavericks regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth off Grybowski, hitting a single and an RBI double with the two batters of the inning. He then left a runner on third, escaping further damage.
As the Wildcats couldn't get anything going against Minnesota State starter Mack Crowley, his offense added to the lead in the seventh. The Mavericks hit an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2 in the seventh and then an RBI single and a double steal in the eighth to make it 7-2. Crowley retired the final 15 Wildcats of the game.
Grygo, Klumpp, and Quinn had the three hits for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return north and begin Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play with their next contest, hosting Chestnut Hill on Wednesday afternoon at Wilson Field. The doubleheader begins at 12:00 p.m.