Wilmington U Baseball

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SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Continues to Help the Community with its Annual Adopt a Highway Campaign

DATE: October 24, 2013
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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Prior to clearing the bases with one swing of the bat in their fall season, the Wilmington University baseball team took time away from the diamond to clear the street and continue its annual Adopt A Highway program on Saturday, October 12.

"Anytime we can get out into the community and give back is a great day," head coach Brian August, who will enter his tenth year at the helm of the Wildcats in the spring, said. "The community has been there for our baseball program through the years and we just want to show that we appreciate their support and want to give back."

It is the fifth straight year August and his team has been a part of the Adopt A Highway campaign, starting the annual cleanup in 2008. The team swept through Route 273 between the First Baptist Church of New Castle and the backside of the New Castle Farmers' Market.

In all, 40 players from the baseball team helped clean both sides of Route 273, clearing trash and debris along the highway.

The baseball team returns in 2014 as the three-time conference champions looking to progress forward towards a fourth straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament appearance in the spring.




Wilmington U

 

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SUBJECT: Wilmington University Baseball Squad to Start 2014 Ranked in Multiple Preseason Polls

DATE: January 6, 2014
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NEWARK, Del. - - Coming off one its most successful seasons, the Wilmington University baseball team has been ranked in a pair of national preseason polls, reaching as high as eighth in the College Baseball Lineup poll and 26th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.

The 2013 Wildcats went 43-13 overall, winning their third straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Championship game for the first time in program history. The team was one win away from reaching its first Division II World Series.

The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll is regarded as the "official" poll, posted by NCAA.com, where the Wildcats sit in 26th after finishing in a tie for 29th at the end of last season. The Wildcats gathered 561 points, one from cracking the Top 25 and tying Coker to start the season.

The College Baseball Lineup poll listed Wilmington eighth overall, siting the depth of the pitching staff that returns for 2014 and the power atop the lineup as reasons for being voted so high.

The Wildcats are set to play Southern New Hampshire, Millersville, and Shippensburg in 2014, all teams that were mentions in both the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the College Baseball Lineup polls. Wilmington in the lone team representing the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference in either poll.

The 2014 season begins Friday, February 21 against Mercyhurt in a play weekend in Petersburg, Va. The Wildcats will also play Mansfield and the College of Saint Rose over the opening weekend.

 

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SUBJECT: Two Trips South and Another Competitive Slate Highlights the 2014 Wilmington University Baseball Schedule

DATE: January 10, 2014
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NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team will look to take it one game farther into the 2014 season, reaching the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Championship game last year, and it starts February 21 as head coach Brian August announces this campaign's schedule.

After winning an NCAA era program record 43 games last season, the Wildcats fell in the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Championship game against Franklin Pierce, once game away from reaching the NCAA Division II World Series for the first time in program history.

"We try to play one of the toughest Division II schedules we can so our guys are ready for playoffs," August, who is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Wildcats, said.

A new season and a new goal begin the weekend of February 21-23 at a neutral site field in Petersburg, Va., against Mercyhurst, Mansfield, and Saint Rose.

The Wildcats debut at home the following the weekend, playing a four-game set against Indiana (Pa.) on March 1-2 at Wilson Field, playing a doubleheader each day. That gives the Wildcats seven regular season games before heading south for its annual Florida Trip.

In Florida, the team will play Southern New Hampshire (a team the Wildcats defeated to reach the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Championship game), NAIA foe St. Thomas (Fla.), Southern Connecticut State, Molloy, and Adelphi.

"We basically have two spring trips this year with our opening weekend to Virginia and then down to Florida," August continued. "That gives us three whole weeks to get going into conference play and help us gauge where we are and who our main guys will be."

Winners of the past three Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournaments and the reigning CACC Regular Season Champions, the Wildcats begin their conference slate against Chestnut Hill on March 13 on the road. Those two teams faced off in the CACC Tournament Championship match last year at Wilson Field.

Throughout the season, Wilmington will also head to Concordia, Caldwell, Nyack, Felician, and Bloomsfield during the regular season inside the CACC.

The team's first home CACC contest will be a doubleheader against Philadelphia on March 22. The Wildcats will also host Chestnut Hill, Post, USciences, and Dominican to round out the CACC portion of the 2014 campaign.

The 2014 nonconference schedule features new faces from the past couple years, as well as regular stiff competition against neighboring Atlantic Region teams.

New to the schedule from last year are home games against Pace, Queens (N.Y.), and Bridgeport, while they also take to the road for a contest against Queens (N.Y.).

August will once again return to his alma mater to face in-state and NCAA Division I foe University of Delaware on March 19 at the refurbished and all turf Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Wildcats also square off against familiar PSAC foes for six games throughout the year. The team will welcome West Chester, Shippensburg, Kutztown, and Millersville to New Castle while also visiting Shippensburg and Kutztown in a home-and-home series.

"We play a lot of tough teams from the PSAC, NE-10, and ECC, throughout the year and go to Florida and play a really competitive schedule," August continued. "The plan is that it helps us gear up for the CACC Tournament and hopefully gets us into the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament."

Due to a scheduling conflict with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the entire CACC Tournament will be hosted at Wilson Field in 2014. The Tournament will move to New Castle following the opening round games at the higher seed on May 3. Once at Wilson Field, the double-elimination format will start on May 8 with a champion being crowned on May 10.

The winner receives the CACC's automatic qualification for the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament at a site to be determined.

AGATE:

2014 Wilmington University Baseball Schedule

February: 21. vs. Mercyhurst (Petersburg, Va.); 22. vs. Mansfield (Petersburg, Va.); 23. vs. Saint Rose (Petersburg, Va.).

March: 1. Indiana (Pa.) (DH); 2. Indiana (Pa.) (DH); 4. vs. Southern New Hampshire (Lantana, Fla.); 5. at St. Thomas (Fla.); 6. vs. Southern Connecticut State (Lantana, Fla.) (DH); 7. vs. Molloy (Boca Raton, Fla.); 8. vs. Adelphi (Lantana, Fla.); 9. vs. Adelphi (Miami Shores, Fla.); 11. West Chester; 13. at *Chestnut Hill; 15. at *Concordia (DH); 18. Shippensburg; 19. at Delaware; 20. Pace; 22. *Philadelphia (DH); 25. at *Caldwell (DH); 26. at Molloy; 28. at *Nyack (DH).

April: 1. Kutztown; 2. *Chestnut Hill (DH); 4. at *Felician; 8. *Post; 9. At Kutztown; 12. at *Bloomfield; 16. at Queens (N.Y.); 21. at Shippensburg; 22. Millersville; 23. *USciences (DH); 26. *Dominican (DH); 30. Queens (N.Y.).

May: 1. Bridgeport; 8-10. CACC Tournament (at Wilson Field).

 

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SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Voted No. 19 in NCBWA National Preseason Poll; No. 2 in East Region

DATE: January 30, 2014
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NEWARK, Del. - - Another preseason baseball poll was released and the Wilmington University baseball team was once again in the mix, prior to starting the much anticipated 2014 season in late February. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association placed the Wildcats second in the East Region and 19th in NCAA Division II.

In addition to the team polls, the NCBWA released the 2014 NCBWA Preseason All-East Region Teams on Wednesday, and five Wildcat student-athletes were recognized.

After an outstanding 2013 NCAA East Region Tournament, junior catcher Matt Lopes, senior third baseman Josh Hampton, and junior utility man Frank Samluk were named First Team NCBWA Preseason All-East Region. Junior left-handed pitcher Ray Gambone and senior closer Nick Marics were named Second Team NCBWA Preseason All-East Region as well.

Lopes batted 8-fo-18 in five games in the East Region Tournament last year, scoring five runs while knocking in four. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk against St. Thomas Aquinas to keep the Wildcats alive. He was named Second Team NCBWA All-East Region last year a sophomore.

Hampton set a program record with 24 doubles last season, but will be most remembered for his walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th on the first pitch he saw against Southern New Hampshire in the East Region Tournament to send the Wildcats to the championship game. He earned First Team NCBWA All-East Region as a junior last year.

Samluk was named Second Team NCBWA All-East Region last year as a two-way player, playing the infield and pitching. He struck out a season's best 12 batters in seven scoreless innings in the NCAA East Region Tournament against New Haven, keeping the Wildcats alive. He also tossed a seven inning no-hitting against Molloy in Florida, and batted .315 mainly as a second baseman.

Gambone led the team in wins and strikeouts last year, going 9-1 with a 2.05 earned run average in 16 appearances. He struck out 66 batters in 88 innings of work. He tossed eight scoreless innings against St. Thomas Aquinas in the East Region Tournament, keeping the Wildcats alive. He was named Second Team NCBWA All-East Region as a sophomore.

Marics set a new program record with 31 appearances out of the pen as a junior, leading the team with eight saves. He tossed 34 innings and finished with a 2.38 earned run average, posting a 5-3 overall record. The team went 25-6 in the 31 games he pitched in. He picked up wins against Felician and Southern New Hampshire in the postseason last season, and earned First Team All-CACC.

The Wildcats finished 41-14 last season and finished No. 8 in the final NCBWA National Poll. This year, the team starts at No. 19, tied with Drury (Mo.) with 110 points. Tampa earned 12 first place votes and 348 points to earn the top spot.

Franklin Pierce, the team that defeated the Wildcats in the East Region Tournament Championship, takes over the top spot in the East Region Poll, earning 83 points and five first place votes. The Wildcats are second in the East, earning three first place votes and 79 points. Southern New Hampshire earned the final first place vote and took home 77 points to sit in third.

The 2014 season begins for the Wildcats on February 21 against Mercyhurst (No. 10 in Atlantic Poll) in Petersburg, Va. The Wildcats will also take on Mansfield and Saint Rose during that weekend in Petersburg, Va.

To view the entire NCBWA National and Region Polls, click here.

 

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SUBJECT: Unanimous Choice: Wilmington Baseball Tabbed to Repeat as CACC Regular Season Champion in Preseason Poll

DATE: February 3, 2014
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Wilmington University baseball team is the unanimous choice to repeat as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Regular Season Champions after a vote by the leagues' 14 head coaches was tallied and announced by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.

The Wildcats have won each of the past three CACC Tournament Championships, earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. The Wildcats finished with a program record 43 wins in 2013, advancing to the East Region Tournament Championship game before being eliminated by Franklin Pierce.

The Wildcats received all 11 first place votes, tallying a perfect 121 points. Dominican finished with 100 points for second place, followed by Felician's 97 points. Concordia (96 points), Philadelphia (71), and Chestnut Hill (67) round out the top six teams picked to continue on to the CACC Tournament in 2014.

The first round of the tournament is single elimination featuring the No. 3 seed against the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed against the No. 5 seed on Saturday, May 3 at the site of the higher seed. The tournament then transitions to a double elimination, four-team championship beginning on Thursday, May 8 and concluding on Saturday, May 10 at Wilson Field, the home of Wilmington University.

The remainder of the poll features Post (49 points), Nyack (48), USciences (28), Bloomfield (26), and Caldwell (23).

Last week, the Wildcats were selected No. 19 in the preseason NCBWA National Poll, as well as second in the NCBWA East Region Poll. Dominican checked in at No. 9 in the East Region to start the season. Felician received votes in the East Region poll.

Wilmington opens the 2014 slate in a play weekend in Petersburg, Va., starting February 21. The Wildcats open the season against Mercyhurst that Friday, followed by Mansfield and Saint Rose over the weekend. The CACC schedule begins with a CACC Tournament Championship rematch against Chestnut Hill on March 13 on the road.

AGATE:

2014 CACC Baseball Preseason Poll

1 ? Wilmington (11 first place votes) ? 121 points
2 ? Dominican ? 100
3 ? Felician ? 97
4 ? Concordia ? 96
5 ? Philadelphia ? 71
6 ? Chestnut Hill 67
7 ? Post ? 49
8 ? Nyack ? 48
9 ? USciences ? 28
10 ? Bloomfield ? 26
11 ? Caldwell - 23

 

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SUBJECT: A Shutout of Mercyhurst and a Sam Goines Grand Slam against Saint Rose Gives Wilmington Baseball a Perfect 3-0 Opening Weekend

DATE: February 23, 2014
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COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. - - Three pitchers combined for a 7-0 shutout over Mercyhurst before a late game comeback, 6-4, against Saint Rose gave the No. 17 Wilmington University baseball team a Sunday sweep to wrap up the weekend in the Dinwiddie Sports Complex tournament, played in Shepherd Stadium.

Ray Gambone, Jay Kluka, and Ryan Douglas combined for the shutout of Mercyhurst in Sunday's early game, with Gambone earning the victory in five innings of work. Kluka, making his first appearance as a Wildcat, tossed three shutout innings with four strikeouts while Douglas, also making his first appearance as a Wildcat, tossed a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

The Wildcats (3-0), ranked 17th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, scored twice in the bottom of the first inning against Mercyhurst, before adding four more in the fourth to take a commanding lead.

With two outs and the bases empty in the first, Josh Swirchak reached base on an error by the third baseman, allowing Josh Hampton to the plate. Hampton delivered and hit his first home run of the season for the early 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the fourth, scoring the first run on a sacrifice fly by Joe Marciano. Mike Annone knocked in another run with a double, while Jesse Long added the third run with an RBI single. Frank Samluk's RBI groundout capped the fourth inning scoring.

Gambone struck out five batters in his first game of the season, giving up three hits and two walks in a scoreless outing. Kluka followed with four strikeouts with only one walk while giving up two hits. Douglas closed out the game with a strikeout while only allowing one hit.

Wilmington needed a late game comeback in the nightcap of the day, falling behind Saint Rose, 2-0, after five full innings.

The scoring started with Hampton leading off the bottom of the sixth, smashing his second home run of the day to put the Wildcats on the board. After the Golden Knights scored a run of their own in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats broke loose with a five run seventh to take the lead.

The rally started with two outs and the bases empty, as Christian Adorno collected his second single of the game. With two men on after a Jon Castro walk, Swirchak singled in the inning's first run. Hampton walked to load the bases, bring Sam Goines to the plate. Goines promptly launched his first home run of the season, clearing the bases for a grand slam and giving the Wildcats the 6-3 lead.

Jarrett Shaffer maneuvered through a scoreless eighth inning, before Tyler Fries tossed the ninth inning for the save, giving the Wildcats a three win weekend.

Fries was touched for run on a home run by Saint Rose's Brian Maynard, but so was starter Frank Samluk in the fifth, as was Jake Wersinger in the seventh as Maynard walked away with a three home run, four RBI game.

Samluk went the first five innings, striking out five batters in the no decision while Wersinger picked up his first collegiate victory with two innings of work. Wersinger struck out three batters. Shaffer tossed a scoreless eighth with a strikeout before Fries picked up his first save with closing the door against Saint Rose.

Wilmington returns to action on Thursday as the weekend home series against Indiana (Pa.) was moved to Diamond Nation in Flemington, N.J. The Wildcats will play the Hawks twice on Thursday starting at 3 p.m., and twice again on Friday starting at 12 p.m.

 

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SUBJECT: Big Sixth Innings Allows No. 18 Wilmington Baseball to Sweep Doubleheader from IUP, 7-4 and 3-0

DATE: March 1, 2014
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BEL AIR, Md. - - A sixth inning shot off the bat of senior Joe Marciano went deep into the cold night, clearing the fence in right center capping a doubleheader sweep for the Wilmington University baseball team over Indiana (Pa.), 7-4 and 3-0, on Saturday night at the Harford Baseball Field on the campus of Harford Community College.

The sixth inning proved large for the No. 18 Wildcats (5-0 overall) in each contest, as senior Josh Hampton singled home a pair with the bases loaded and the team scored three sixth inning runs in the first game, before Marciano's homer in the night cap. IUP (3-3 overall) never led in either game on Saturday, but pulled to within one in the eighth inning of the opener.

Wilmington came out firing in the opener, wasting no time to put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Newcomer Josh Swirchak doubled home Frank Samluk before swiping third base. Now standing on third, Hampton's fly ball was deep enough to score Swirchak for the quick 2-0 lead.

The Crimson Hawks responded with a two run top of the second, knotting the game for what would be the next four innings. Hampton broke the tie with his single inside the third base bag and into left field, scoring a pair. Matt Lopes walked to reload the bases before Marciano reached on a fielder's choice to bring in another run.

Indiana made it close once again with a pair of runs in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a leadoff walk and a pair of doubles. But the rally was quickly snapped by reliever Tyler Fries, as he came in and struck out both batters he faces, leaving the tying run on third base.

A Hampton double in the bottom of the eighth scored Swirchak before Marciano hit another sacrifice fly for a pair of insurance runs before senior Nick Marics picked up his first save of the 2014 season with a scoreless ninth frame.

Newcomer Jay Kluka picked up the win, his first as a Wildcat, in two innings of relief, coming in to start the sixth inning after starter Ray Gambone tossed the first five. Kluka struck out four in his two innings, only allowing one walk.

Again the Wildcats got on the board early in the nightcap, scoring a run in the bottom of the first of game two. Freshman Christian Adorno led off the inning with a single before Jon Castro walked. Swirchak moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Hampton to hit a sacrifice fly to left for the quick 1-0 lead.

The game remained 1-0 for the next four full innings, as starter Samluk set the Hawks down for four innings before giving way to the bullpen. Samluk struck out five batters and allowed two hits and four walks to earn his first win of the season. Rob Gore tossed a scoreless fifth inning while Peter Monahan added a scoreless sixth inning.

The Wildcats added a pair of insurance runs off the bat of Marciano, as he hit his second home run of the season after Hampton led off the inning with a single but stood on second with two outs in the inning.

Fries returned for his second appearance of the day, and left a runner at second as he recorded two more strikeouts for his second save of the season.

Hampton went 3-for-5 for the doubleheader, collecting five RBIs and scoring two more. Marciano finished with four RBIs in the two games. Samluk, Jon Castro, Swirchak, and Hampton collected two hits each in the first game.

The Wildcats have the opportunity to escape the North East and the cold weather for their next seven games when they take their annual trip to southern Florida. The team's first game in the Sunshine State is scheduled for March 4 against Southern New Hampshire at the Santaluces Sports Complex in Lantana, Fla. Tuesday's game will be the first time the two teams have met since the Wildcats knocked the Penmen out of the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament last season in the semifinal round.

 

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SUBJECT: No. 17 Wilmington Baseball Suffers First Loss of Season, 7-2, to Southern New Hampshire

DATE: March 4, 2014
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LANTANA, Fla. - - The No. 17 ranked Wilmington University baseball team suffered its first loss of the season in a tough regional matchup against Southern New Hampshire, 7-2, to kick start the team's annual Florida Trip played at the Santaluces Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

In the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II East Region Poll, the Wildcats (5-1) were ranked No. 2 while the Penmen (6-3) followed directly behind at No. 3, and just outside the National Top 25 but received votes. The Wildcats moved up one spot to No. 17 in the national poll released prior to the start of Tuesday's competition.

The Penmen jumped out to a fast start in their second game of the day, taking a 2-1 lead after the first inning on the strength of a two-out home run, and a 4-1 lead after two complete innings.

The SNHU lead grew to 5-1 after a single run in the fourth before the Penmen added single runs in the sixth and again in the eighth to keep the Wildcats at an arm's reach.

Wilmington took an early lead after their first at-bat of the ball game, aided by a two-out double by senior Josh Hampton. Jon Castro hit a one-out single and stole second to start the rally before Hampton doubled him home for the quick, 1-0, lead.

Another two out rally produced the Wildcats' second run, coming in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Josh Swirchak walked with two the bases empty and two outs before advancing to second on a balk by Penmen starter Mike Robert. Hampton continued his hot start to the season with another base hit, this time a single to score Swirchak and bring the Wildcats to within three at 5-2.

But Robert shut down the Wildcats for the rest of the contest, allowing only two base runners for the duration of the game. He picked up his second win of the season, striking out 10 batters while walking five and allowing six hits.

Wildcat starter Jay Kluka went 3.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He struck out a pair while walking one batter. Tim Racek came on for two-thirds of an inning before Ryan Douglas came on in the fifth. Douglas tossed two innings, allowing an unearned run, before handing the ball off to Peter Monahan who finished out the remaining two innings.

The Wildcats were out hit, 14-6, in the contest, while also committing four errors along the way.

Wilmington will look to get back to its winning way on Wednesday night, as they head to Miami Gardens to take on one of the premier NAIA programs in the country in St. Thomas (Fla.). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and can be followed live via St. Thomas' athletic department.

 

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Late Game Comeback Falls Short for No. 17 Wilmington, 6-5, Under the Lights at St. Thomas (Fla.)








MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - - A two-run rally in the top of the ninth wasn't enough as the Wilmington University baseball team left the tying run at second, falling to St. Thomas (Fla.), 6-5, on Wednesday night at Paul D. Mainieri Field.

After capturing their first five games to start the season, the 17th ranked Wildcats (5-2 overall) dropped two in a row to begin their annual trip to Florida. The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Bobcats (16-7 overall).

The Wildcats jumped out to a an early 3-0 lead after the first three innings, scoring a single run in the second and adding two more in the third. Brody Tennant gave the Wildcats their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Matt Lopes from third. Sam Goines hit an RBI single in the third before Josh Hampton made it 3-0 by scoring on an error by the catcher attempting to throw out Goines stealing second.

Starting pitcher Chris Lopez worked out of a two-hit jam in the second, and tossed 1-2-3 innings in the first, third, and fourth innings, keeping the Wildcats in front going into the bottom of the fifth.

Lopez gave up an RBI groundout, giving the Bobcats their first run of the game but gave the Wildcats two outs and the bases empty. St. Thomas responded with four straight hits and a walk, scoring two more runs and taking a 4-3 lead after five complete innings.

The Bobcats were able to add two more in the bottom of the seventh on a dropped fly ball with two outs, putting the Wildcats in a 6-3 hole late in the contest.

Down to its last at-bat, Wilmington tried to come all the way back in the top of the ninth inning. Jon Castro completed his three-hit night with a lead-off single, followed by an infield single by Josh Swirchak. Hampton singled into left field for his third hit of the night, loading the bases with no outs, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

The Bobcats brought in Eric Santamaria to work out of the jam, and he quickly put down the first two batters he faced to bring the Wildcats to their final out.

Freshman Mike Jerminski stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and lined a ball back up the middle and into centerfield, easily scoring Castro and Swirchak without a throw. But with the tying run on second, Santamaria got Joe Marciano swinging for the final out of the game, giving the 6-5 victory to the home team.

Castro and Hampton led the offense by each going 3-for-5 with a run scored while Swirchak, Lopes, and Mike Annone added two hits apiece in the effort.

The Wildcats get right back action on their Florida trip, looking to snap their two-game losing skid on Thursday. They square off against Southern Connecticut State in a doubleheader at the Santaluces Sports Complex starting at 12 p.m.

 

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SUBJECT: Seven Run First Fuels No. 17 Wilmington Baseball to 10-4 Victory Over Molloy

DATE: March 7, 2014
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BOCA RATON, Fla. - - A seven run first inning boosted the No. 17 Wilmington University baseball team to a 10-4 non-conference victory over Molloy, snapping a three-game winless streak on its annual Florida Trip on Friday afternoon at Lynn University.

The Wildcats (6-2-1 overall) won for the first time while in Florida on Friday, using three Molloy (2-3) errors to get on the board early and often. Only six of the Wildcats' 10 runs were charged to the Lions' pitching staff.

Senior Josh Hampton remained hot to start the season, knocking in the Wildcats' first two runs of the contest with a two-run double. Junior Sam Goines followed with an RBI single to score Hampton before junior Frank Samluk hit another double to add two more to the board. Freshman Brody Tennant added to the extra-base hit parade in the first, smashing an RBI triple to make it 6-0 in favor of Wilmington. Freshman Christian Adorno finished the scoring in the first, reaching on an error, scoring Tennant form third.

Starter Ray Gambone sat the Lions down in order in the second and third, getting an around-the-horn double play after walking the leadoff batter in the third.

Tennant made it two straight extra base hits in as many at-bats for the freshman, hitting a double in the bottom of the third to put runners on second and third. Two batters later, Jon Castro reached on a throwing error by Molloy, scoring both Tennant and Samluk to make it 9-0 in favor of the Wildcats.

Following another 1-2-3 inning by Gambone in the fourth, junior Josh Swirchak started the bottom half with a double. Molloy was able to get the next two batters and looked as though it was going to escape without any damage, but Goines connected with another RBI triple, bringing the Wildcats lead to 10-0.

Gambone was finally broken in the top of the sixth inning, giving up a two-out single to conceive the no-hitter. He induced an inning ending pop-up to the next batter, getting out of the slight jam.

The starter went into the eighth inning before getting into trouble again, as Molloy put its first two batters on base with a single and a hit-by-pitch. Gambone buckled down to get the next two batters out, but hit another batter in the inning to load the bases. Gambone's day finished with two-outs in the eighth inning. Freshman Tyler Newton relieved Gambone and struck out his only Molloy batter to escape the jam unscathed.

Molloy tacked on four runs in the top of the ninth before Wilmington's Tim Racek closed out the win on the mound, 10-4.

Gambone struck out six batters while allowing five hits and three walks. His 7.2 innings were a season high so far while the win improved his 2014 record to 2-0.

Hampton batted 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Castro and Goines also finished with two RBIs on the afternoon while Goines and Tennant finished two hits apiece. Swirchak, Samluk, and Tennant led the team with two runs each.

The Wildcats continue their Florida Trip on Saturday, playing a single game against Adelphi at the Santaluces Sports Complex in Lantana, Fla. First pitch of the nine-inning game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

 

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SUBJECT: Samluk's Gem Headlines No. 17 Wilmington Baseball's 9-1 Victory over Adelphi

DATE: March 8, 2014
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LANTANA, Fla. - - An early lead was all starter Frank Samluk needed as the junior allowed one run on three hits to lead the No. 17 Wilmington University baseball team to a 9-1 victory over Adelphi at the Santaluces Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Two runs in the bottom of the first was all the Wildcats (7-2-1 overall) needed on Saturday, riding the arm of Samluk who went seven innings to pick up the victory. Adelphi (1-2) scored in the top of the third, getting two of its three hits in the inning, but couldn't muster anything more off the righty.

The Wildcats got on the board first, as junior Sam Goines hit a two-out, two-run single to center field with the bases loaded, scoring Christian Adorno and Josh Hampton. Goines added another RBI single in the third, knocking in Josh Swirchak who led off the inning with a single.

Samluk continued to roll for the Wildcats, setting the Panthers down in order in the fourth and fifth, before finally giving up another base hit to lead off the sixth inning. Samluk's final inning came after the Wildcats tacked on four more runs to really open the lead.

Jesse Long doubles to left, putting runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. Following an Adorno walk, Jon Castro smashed a triple to center field, chasing all three runners home. Castro eventually came home on a ground ball double play by Hampton, bringing the Wildcat lead to 8-1.

Tyler Fries took over for Samluk in the eighth inning, walking a batter but inducing an inning ending around the horn double play for a scoreless inning.

Senior Nick Marics came on for the ninth inning, facing four batters while recording a strikeout in another scoreless inning for the Wildcats.

Goines led all batters with three hits, resulting in three RBIs while Jon Castro's triple resulted in three RBI while he also collected three hits and three runs scored. Swirchak and Long were the only other Wildcats to tally multiple hits, each gong 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

After losing a game against Southern Connecticut State earlier this week due to rain, the Wildcats picked up a contest on Sunday against LIU Post. The Wildcats and Pioneers will play at 9:30 a.m. at the Santaluces Sports Complex before heading to Barry University to play Adelphi once more at 6 p.m.

 

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SUBJECT: Sam Goines' Late Game RBI Single Salvages CACC Split for No. 19 Wilmington Baseball Against Philadelphia


DATE: March 22, 2014
Djl


NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A two-out RBI single from Sam Goines in the bottom of the eighth in game two allowed the No. 19 Wilmington University baseball team to salvage a split against Philadelphia in the Wildcats Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.


The Wildcats (11-3-1, 1-1 CACC) responded after every Philadelphia (8-11, 2-2 CACC) score before taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth of game two. The Wildcats took the second game, 3-2, after falling in extra innings, 2-1, in the opener.


Goines got his day started in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game, doubling home Josh Swirchak for the 1-0 lead.


But the bats fell silent for the rest of the contest, as Philadelphia tied the game with a single run in the top of the sixth inning. Starter Ray Gambone quickly got the first two out in the inning, but then a double and a walk put runners on the corners, ending the day for Gambone. Peter Monahan came on, but couldn't get out of the inning unscathed, as the Rams singled home a run before Monahan stuck out a batter to leave the bases empty.


The score remained 1-1 until the top of the 10th inning when the Rams loaded the bases with no outs. A grounder to second brought in the go-ahead run before reliever Nick Marics induced an inning ending double-play, but the damage was done.


The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the 10th, putting runners on first and third with only one out. But the Rams' Luke Floer picked up the save after getting an infield pop-up and a grounder to seal the victory in 10-innings.


Gambone struck out five in 5.2 innings of work, allowing only one run on five hits but walked four batters. He earned the no decision to start the doubleheader.


In the nightcap, the Rams got on the board first with a single run in the top of the second, but the Wildcats retaliated in the bottom half to tie the game. With two outs and Goines on second, Joe Marciano singled home the tying run.


Again the Rams tallied a mark in the top of the third inning, but the Wildcats responded with another game tying run in the home half. Christian Adorno reached on a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score on an error by the shortstop on a Josh Hampton ground ball.


The score remained 2-2 until the late innings, where Goines played hero once again.


In the bottom of the eighth, Swirchak walked with one out to put the go-ahead runner on base. Now on second with two outs, Swirchak came around to score without a throw to the plate as Goines singled back up the middle.


Reliever Tyler Fries ran into trouble in the top of the ninth, as he found himself in a one-out and two men on jam. But the junior recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the game, pick up the save, and earn the doubleheader split.


Goines and Brody Tennant were the only Wildcats to record a hit in both games. Goines double in the first game was the only extra base hit for the Wildcats in the doubleheader.


Junior Jamie Treml picked up the win in game two with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out a batter in a clean eighth inning. He is now 3-0 on the season. Fries picked up his third save of the young year.


The Wildcats take to the road for their next seven games overall, staying in the CACC for their next day of action. Wilmington heads to Caldwell for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 12 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Two Run Eighth Inning Allows No. 20 Wilmington Baseball to Earn Split at Nyack

DATE: March 28, 2014
Djl

POMONA, N.Y. - - Senior Josh Hampton executed a perfect delayed steal of home plate and junior Jamie Treml added another run with an RBI single in the eighth inning of game two, allowing the No. 20 Wilmington University baseball team to earn the split against Nyack on Friday, played at Provident Bank Park.

As soon as Nyack's (9-9, 3-1 CACC) pitcher toed the rubber in the top of the first, the weather picked up and rained on and off all afternoon long. The mound and plate proved to be a cause of concern for the pitchers and batters' footing for the majority of the games.

The Wildcat (14-4-1, 4-2 CACC) bats were stymied in the first game as they only mustered five base hits and left seven runners on the bags. Nyack used the arm of Cole Tobin to carry them to victory, as he went the distance for the complete game shutout. He struck out seven batters while only walking two batters.

The Warriors got on the board early against Wildcat starter Ray Gambone, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Nyack started quickly, as leadoff man John Kennedy took the first pitch he saw and doubled to the gap. A sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk later and the Warriors were on top 2-0.

That was more than Tobin needed as he worked out of a pair of jams, leaving two Wildcats on base in the sixth and eighth innings.

Mike Annone and Josh Swirchak doubled for the Wildcats while Annone and Hampton paced the offense with two hits each.

In the nightcap, Frank Samluk battled through five innings of work on the mound, striking out seven batters. He turned the game over to the bullpen with a 4-2 lead.

The Warriors battled back, however, as they tallied solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game. The game tying run came on a squeeze play, and Mike Jerminski's diving effort back to home plate was late on the speedy Kennedy.

But the Wildcats didn't waste any time in gaining the momentum back, using their creativity to score the winning run in the top of the eighth. Hampton led off the inning with a single and did the rest with his legs to find home plate.

Now on second, Hampton and Sam Goines successfully stole a bag to put two runners in scoring position. In the middle of Treml's at-bat, Hampton crept closer and close to home before executing a perfect delayed steal as the catcher tossed the ball back to the mound.

Treml followed suit and singled through the hole on the right side, plating Goines from second as he beat the throw from right field.

In his second inning of work, Tyler Fries shut down the Warrior offense in the bottom of the eighth, with the help of Goines in left field. With two outs, Jack Hudak singles inside the third base bag, but Goines got to it quickly and threw a one-hopper to second to gun down Hudak trying for the double. Jarrett Shaffer worked around a two-out error and induced a fly ball, ending the game and earning the save with a scoreless ninth.

Wilmington collected 11 hits in the second game, getting two each from Swirchak, Annone, and Brody Tennant. Jerminksi and Tennant hit doubles for the Wildcats while Joe Marciano led the team with two runs batted in.

The Wildcats remain on the road for their next doubleheader, as they are set to makeup a twinbill at Concordia on Monday. The first pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. on campus.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Winning Streak Snapped but No. 20 Wilmington Baseball Earns CACC Split, 0-2 and 1-0, at Felician
DATE: April 14, 2014
djl
LYNDHURST, N.J. - - The No. 20 Wilmington University baseball team saw its 10-game winning streak snapped but came back to split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader, 0-2 and 1-0, at Felician to remain in second place on Monday at Lyndhurst Recreation.
Felician's (18-14, 10-4 CACC) Jerry Vasto silenced the bats of the Wildcats (24-5-1, 13-3 CACC) in the opener, as the Wildcats were only able to collect three hits. The Wildcats fought back behind the arm of Frank Samluk in game two, capturing a seventh inning run to earn the doubleheader split in the nightcap.
Wilmington's starter Ray Gambone went the distance in the first game, striking seven batters out while allowing three walks and eight hits. Felician picked up an early run and that was all Vasto needed as he struck out nine batters without issuing a walk in the complete game shutout.
With one out in the first, the Golden Falcons put the next three batters on base, getting an RBI double down the right field line by Joe Petosa. Gambone battled back to get the next two batters on strikeouts to end the threat and leave two runners on.
The Golden Falcons added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, as Petosa was at it again with a double, this time of the ground-rule variety to score a run. Again, Gambone got the next batter out to escape the jam and leave two runners on.
Frank Samluk, Josh Hampton, and Jon Castro were the only Wildcats to record hits off Vasto, as they were only able to leave a runner on base in the third and seventh innings, not getting a runner into scoring position all game long.
The Wildcats produced more opportunities to score in the nightcap, but only cracked the scoreboard in the top of the seventh frame.
With two outs and Brody Tennant on second, Josh Swirchak singled back up the middle, allowing Tennant to race home and beat the throw.
The rest was up to starter Frank Samluk and the bullpen, as Samluk shut the down the Golden Falcons in the seventh, his final of the game. Nick Marics came on and worked around a leadoff single, stranding a man on third in the eighth. Tyler Fries finished off the victory by working around a leadoff single in the ninth, stranding the game-tying run at first base.
Samluk struck out a career best 11 batters on Monday, allowing three walks and only three hits to improve to 4-0 on the year. Fries picked up his fourth save of the season, striking out the final two batters to close the win.
Swirchak finished with a pair of hits and an RBI for the Wildcats, while Matt Lopes, Mike Jerminski, and Tennant added one hit each in the nightcap.
The busy week for the Wildcats continues on Tuesday, as they head to St. Thomas Aquinas for a nonconference doubleheader in Sparkill, N.Y. The first pitch of the two seven-inning games is scheduled for 2 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Claims Second Bill Giles Invitational Championship with 7-2 Win over West Chester
DATE: April 22, 2014
djl
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - For the second time in the 14 year history of the Bill Giles Invitational, the Wilmington University baseball team took home the championship, defeating West Chester, 7-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The last time the Wildcats (27-7-1 overall) won the Bill Giles Invitational was in the 2007 season, when the University was Wilmington College. The Wildcats have played in the championship at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, in each of the past three seasons.
The Rams got on the scoreboard first, hitting a two out single to bring home a run for the 1-0 lead.
The game opened up for the Wildcats in the top of the second, as they put five runs on the board, with the big hit coming from the bat of Josh Swirchak.
Brody Tennant walked to start the inning and was chased home all the way from first on an RBI double from Sam Goines to tie the match. Now with runners on first and second after a Jon Castro single, Swirchak smashed his second home run of the season in to the seats in left to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. Mike Annone rounded out the Wildcats scoring in the second, scoring Frank Samluk who started a new rally with a single to follow the home run.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning, tacking on two more runs.
Castro tripled to start the inning, while the red hot Swirchak doubled him home to pick up his fourth RBI of the game. Now with runners on first and third, Matt Lopes singled in the team's seventh and final run of the game, bringing home Swirchak.
Samluk tossed the first two innings for the Wildcats, striking out three batters while allowing a run on five hits. Ray Gambone pitched the next two innings, as he faced six batters, setting them all down. Chris Lopez tossed the next two innings, striking out three batters without allowing a run on three hits.
Jamie Treml pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Nick Marics allowed a run on two hits in the eighth. Tyler Fries closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out a batter while allowing one hit.
Mike Annone and Castro led the team with three hits each, as Castro batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Annone went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Swirchak led all batters with four RBI on the afternoon, batting 2-for-5 while adding two runs scored. Lopes also went 2-for-4 in the contest while Samluk, and Goines added the two final hits for the Wildcats to total 12 for the game.
The Wildcats have little rest for the weary this week, as they are back in action on Wednesday when they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. The team will host USciences at Wilson Field for a conference doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.


________________________________

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Claims Second Bill Giles Invitational Championship with 7-2 Win over West Chester
DATE: April 22, 2014
djl
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - For the second time in the 14 year history of the Bill Giles Invitational, the Wilmington University baseball team took home the championship, defeating West Chester, 7-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The last time the Wildcats (27-7-1 overall) won the Bill Giles Invitational was in the 2007 season, when the University was Wilmington College. The Wildcats have played in the championship at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, in each of the past three seasons.
The Rams got on the scoreboard first, hitting a two out single to bring home a run for the 1-0 lead.
The game opened up for the Wildcats in the top of the second, as they put five runs on the board, with the big hit coming from the bat of Josh Swirchak.
Brody Tennant walked to start the inning and was chased home all the way from first on an RBI double from Sam Goines to tie the match. Now with runners on first and second after a Jon Castro single, Swirchak smashed his second home run of the season in to the seats in left to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. Mike Annone rounded out the Wildcats scoring in the second, scoring Frank Samluk who started a new rally with a single to follow the home run.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning, tacking on two more runs.
Castro tripled to start the inning, while the red hot Swirchak doubled him home to pick up his fourth RBI of the game. Now with runners on first and third, Matt Lopes singled in the team's seventh and final run of the game, bringing home Swirchak.
Samluk tossed the first two innings for the Wildcats, striking out three batters while allowing a run on five hits. Ray Gambone pitched the next two innings, as he faced six batters, setting them all down. Chris Lopez tossed the next two innings, striking out three batters without allowing a run on three hits.
Jamie Treml pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Nick Marics allowed a run on two hits in the eighth. Tyler Fries closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out a batter while allowing one hit.
Mike Annone and Castro led the team with three hits each, as Castro batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Annone went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Swirchak led all batters with four RBI on the afternoon, batting 2-for-5 while adding two runs scored. Lopes also went 2-for-4 in the contest while Samluk, and Goines added the two final hits for the Wildcats to total 12 for the game.
The Wildcats have little rest for the weary this week, as they are back in action on Wednesday when they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. The team will host USciences at Wilson Field for a conference doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.


________________________________

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Moves Atop CACC Standings with 2-0 Win over USciences
DATE: April 23, 2014
djl
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The No. 20 Wilmington University baseball team collected 11 hits but only managed two runs on a blustery afternoon at Wilson Field, using Rob Gore's arm to carry the team to 2-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over USciences.
Gore tossed seven strong innings with three strikeouts, only allowing four hits while not giving up a run for the Wildcats (28-7-1, 15-3 CACC). USciences (5-30, 3-15 CACC) received a strong outing from starter T.J. Maiorino as he struck out four but allowed two runs (one earned) over 7.0+ innings in the loss.
It seemed as though the Wildcats were going to jump out to a large lead in the first inning, as they received singles from Josh Swirchak and Frank Samluk to start the inning. With runners on first and third, Josh Hampton legged out a grounder to second base to pick up the RBI as the Devils attempted to turn the double play.
Again with two runners on in the first, Maiorino induced Mike Annone into a grounder to first base to end the inning and the threat for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats left at least one runner on in every inning but the fifth, including a pair of runners in the fourth, sixth, and seventh frames.
An insurance run came in the bottom of the seventh, however, as Swirchak, the CACC's leader hitting, doubled inside the third base bag to start the inning. Attempting to sacrifice him over to third, Samluk reached as Maiorino threw the bunted ball away from first base, allowing Swirchak to come home.
Still in trouble, Maiorino induced three ground ball outs to work his out of the inning, leaving runners at the corners.
After tossing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh frames, Gore was replaced by Nick Marics to start the top of the eighth. Marics earned two strikeouts on his way to a third straight 1-2-3 inning for the Wildcats.
Tyler Fries came on for the save opportunity in the ninth inning, again setting the Devils down in order for his fifth save of the season.
Gore improved to 5-0 on the year, lowering his season earned run average to a minute 1.79 in 45.1 innings.
Brody Tennant led the Wildcats with three hits while Swirchak, Samluk, and Jon Castro each added two hits. Mike Jerminski and Sam Goines added hits to round out the 11 for the team.
Wilmington continues its busy week with another contest on Thursday, making up a game at Kutztown. The single, nine-inning game is set to begin at 3 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Christian Adorno named CACC Baseball Rookie of the Week
DATE: April 28, 2014
djl
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Wilmington University freshman Christian Adorno has been named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Week, helping the baseball team to a 5-2 week, announced by the conference office on Monday.
It is the first time this season that Adorno (Millville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) has been named CACC Rookie of the Week. He batted 7-for-12 in four games this week, capping the week with a 4-for-5 performance in game two against Dominican.
The freshman started the week with batting 1-for-2 with a run in game two at Shippensburg on Monday. Adorno then batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored at Kutztown.
His best game last week capped play for the Wildcats, as he collected four singles and scored two runs in game two against Dominican. He started scoring innings in the fourth and eighth frames, leading off with singles before coming around to score.
Baseball's Jamie Treml was named to the Weekly Honor Roll after picking up 12 strikeouts in seven innings, striking out 11 in six innings in his lone start at Kutztown. He allowed one unearned run on the week, only giving up three hits.
The Wildcats' sweep on Saturday earned the team the 2014 CACC Regular Season title and the CACC Tournament's top seed. The team received a bye in the first round of the Tournament and will begin play on Thursday May 8 in the double elimination portion of the tournament at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats wrap up regular season play this week, hosting Queens (N.Y.) on Wednesday and Bridgeport on Thursday.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Continuous Pressure Leads Wilmington Baseball to 9-3 Win over In-State and Division I Foe Delaware
DATE: April 28, 2014
djl
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team scored at least one run in each of the last four innings, putting continuous pressure on the University of Delaware to pull away for a 9-3 victory over its in-state foe on Monday afternoon at the newly renovated Bob Hannah Stadium.
The win was the fourth in the last six attempts for the Wildcats (32-7-1 overall) against their in-state NCAA Division I rivals, but first since the 2011 season. Delaware (20-21 overall) came into the game taking two of three from UNCW over the weekend and winners of five of its last six games.
The Wildcats produced 14 hits in the game, taking the lead for good with a two-run sixth after the Blue Hens tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Off and running on the pitch, Matt Lopes scored all the way from first on a double by Sam Goines inside the third base bag to give the visitors the lead for good. Joe Marciano followed with a double inside the first base bag, past a drawn in first baseman to score Goines for the 5-3 lead.
From there, the Wildcats scored runs in every inning to continue to extend the lead.
Josh Swirchak hit a one-out double down the right field line to start a seventh inning rally, coming home to score on an RBI fielder's choice by Frank Samluk.
With runners on first and third, Brody Tennant took off for second, drawing a throw from the Blue Hen catcher which allowed Goines to trot home from third for a run in the top of the eighth inning.
Reliever Jay Kluka shut down the Blue Hens in two innings of work, facing the minimum over two innings to keep the Wildcats in front down the stretch.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Samluk started a rally by working a walk and stealing second base. Josh Hampton singled into right field and Samluk came around to score as the throw from right field got past the catcher at the plate. Lopes finished off the scoring for the Wildcats with a two-out single, putting the Wildcats cushion at 9-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Tyler Fries came on to close the door in the ninth, tossing a perfect inning to secure the victory.
Jake Wersinger went the first 4.1 innings for the Wildcats, striking out three batters while allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in the no decision. Chris Lopez came on for the next 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and two walks but no runs to earn the win.
Hampton and Goines led the offense with three hits each in the game while Swirchak, and Tennant collected two hits each in the win. Samluk and Hampton led the way with two RBI each.
The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday when they host Queens in their second to last game of the 2014 regular season. The first pitch of Wednesday's game is set for 3 p.m. at Wilson Field.


________________________________

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Eight Wilmington Baseball Student-Athletes Earn All-CACC Recognition
DATE: May 6, 2014
djl
NEW
HAVEN, Conn. - - Heading into the Central Atlantic Collegiate
Conference Tournament this weekend at Wilson Field, eight Wilmington
University baseball players were honored by the conference, earning
All-CACC honors as announced by commissioner Dan Mara Tuesday morning.
Five
Wildcats (32-7-1 overall, 17-3 CACC) were named First Team All-CACC
while the remaining three student-athletes were named Second Team
All-CACC.
Juniors Matt Lopes, Frank Samluk, Jamie Treml, and Tyler
Fries accompany Senior Josh Hampton on the First Team while junior Josh
Swirchak, Sam Goines and Rob Gore were named Second Team All-CACC.
It's
the second year in a row that Lopes (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield
Beach) has earned First Team honors. After a strong second half of the
season, Lopes is second in the CACC with a .388 batting average. With 38
hits, 12 walks, and four hit by pitches, Lopes is first in the CACC
with a .474 on-base percentage. He also has six doubles, 12 RBI, and 20
runs scored on the year, while throwing out seven would-be base
stealers.
Samluk (Middletown, Del./St. Elizabeth's) earned First Team
All-CACC utility man for the second year in a row as an infielder and a
pitcher. The do-it-all player for the Wildcats, Samluk is 10th in the
CACC with a .339 batting average, and eighth with 14 stolen bases. He
also carries a fifth best 1.84 earned run average while only allowing
hitters to bat .195 off of him. Samluk is 4-0 in 10 appearances, making
nine starts while striking out a team high 51 batters in 49.0 innings.
Treml
(Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) is back on the All-CACC teams after
missing out last year. He was the CACC Rookie of the Year in 2011 and
earned Second Team honors in his first two seasons. In nine appearances
(five starts) on the mound this year, Treml is 8-0 with a CACC leading
0.79 earned run average. He has struck out a season best 11 batters in
each of his past two starts and leads the CACC in averaging 12.44
strikeouts per nine innings.
It is the first time in his career that
Fries (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) has earned All-CACC recognition
after leading the CACC with six saves and 21 appearances. He is 2-0 on
the year with a 1.25 earned run average in 21.2 innings of work. He has
30 strikeouts on the season while only allowing five walks. He is
averaging 12.46 strikeouts per nine innings of work, but doesn't have
enough innings to register in CACC rankings.
Hampton (West Grove,
Pa./Avon Grove) makes his second appearance on the All-CACC First Team,
hitting as the team's cleanup hitter all season. The senior leads the
CACC with 16 doubles; fifth with a .358 batting average; sixth with 53
hits; seventh with 30 RBI, a .419 on-base percentage, and a .520
slugging percentage. He is also ninth in making 93 assists at third base
on the season.
Swirchak (Manassa, Va./Osbourn Park) led the CACC
with a .389 batting average during the regular season, landing him on
the Second Team in his first season with the Wildcats. He is also second
with a .461 on-base percentage and 42 runs scored as the team's leadoff
hitter. His 11 doubles ranks fifth in the CACC while his 10 sacrifice
bunts put him atop the CACC rankings. Swirchak's .535 slugging
percentage is fifth in the CACC as he has also amassed two triples and
two home runs as part of his 56 hits.
Goines (Wilmington, Del./A.I.
DuPont) earned Second Team All-CACC for the first time in his career for
his play in outfield this season. His team leading 40 RBI ranks second
in the CACC while he is also in the Top 1o with a .424 on-base
percentage (fourth), .481 slugging percentage (ninth), 17 stolen bases
(sixth), and three home runs (seventh).
Gore (Broomall, Pa./Marple
Newtown) earned his first all-conference honors after finishing 5-0 on
the season with a 1.79 earned run average. In 45.1 innings pitched, he's
struck out 34 batters while only allowing 10 walks. His ERA ranks
fourth in the CACC among eligible pitchers , and third on the team
overall. He has been a part of three of the team's nine shutouts while
batters are only hitting .189 off him on the season.
Felician took
care of the major awards during the 2014 regular season with senior
shortstop Aaron Brill being named CACC Player of the Year and junior
Jerry Vasto being named CACC Pitcher of the Year.
Dominican's Jayson
Gray was named the CACC Rookie of the Year while Nyack's skipper Matt
Cornacchione was voted as the CACC Coach of the Year by the conference's
sports information directors. Nyack also earned the Team Sportsmanship
Award.
The Wildcats begin the CACC Tournament on Thursday as the No. 1
seed after winning the 2014 CACC Regular Season with a 17-3 record. The
Wildcats will face fifth seeded Dominican in the first game of the
double-elimination format at Wilson Field. The first pitch is slated for
8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8.
AGATE
2014 CACC Baseball All-Conference Teams
First Team:
C ? Matt Lopes, Wilmington
1B ? Scott De Jong, Felician
2B ? John Sczepanski, Philadelphia
3B ? Josh Hampton, Wilmington
SS ? Aaron Brill, Felician
OF ? John Kennedy, Nyack
OF ? Joe Petosa, Felician
OF ? Brendan Looby, Chestnut Hill
DH ? Ken McCormick, Philadelphia
UT ? Frank Samluk, Wilmington
SP ? Jamie Treml, Wilmington
SP ? Jerry Vasto, Felician
SP ? Don Crook, Post
RP ? Tyler Fries, Wilmington
Second Team:
C ? Tyler Clark, Dominican
1B ? Julien Casaubon, Post
2B ? Mike Shada, Post
3B ? Joe O'Donnell, Caldwell
SS ? Josh Swirchak, Wilmington
OF ? Sam Goines, Wilmington
OF ? Gabriel Fellin, Felician
OF ? Jayson Gray, Dominican
DH ? Brennan Price, Felician
UT ? Cole Tobin, Nyack
SP ? Dominic Raia III, Chestnut Hill
SP ? Jack Fowler, Felician
SP ? Rob Gore, Wilmington
RP ? Matthew Facendo, Felician
Honorable Mention:
SP ? John Holland, Felician
SP ? Ryan Calby, Dominican
SP ? Cory Dean, Philadelphia
2B ? Paul Nyitray, Caldwell
CACC Player of the Year: Aaron Brill, Felician
CACC Pitcher of the Year: Jerry Vasto, Felician
CACC Rookie of the Year: Jayson Gray, Dominican
CACC Coach of the Year: Matt Cornacchione, Nyack
Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack College

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Top Seeded Wilmington Baseball Knocked To Loser's Bracket But Advances in CACC Tournament
DATE: May 8, 2014
djl
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Top seeded Wilmington University began Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament play with a loss to fifth seeded Dominican, 5-4, but kept their four-peat hopes alive with a win over sixth seeded Post, 5-2, on Thursday afternoon at Wilson Field.
The game one loss knocked the Wildcats (33-8-1 overall) into the losers' bracket and forced them to play a second game on Thursday. They survived and advanced in the afternoon game, using late runs to scoot by the Eagles (17-22-1 overall) to live to play another day.
In the opener, the Wildcats scored first against Dominican (22-22 overall), scoring the first run of the game in the first inning after a two-out rally. Josh Hampton doubled just inside the third base bag with two-outs and no one on before a pair of wild pitches allowed Hampton to come around and score.
In the third, the Wildcats put two runners into scoring position with one out in the inning, and a sacrifice fly by Matt Lopes gave the home team a 2-0 lead after three innings.
But the bats came out in the fourth inning for the Chargers, as they collected four hits and were aided by a leadoff walk and an error in the inning to score three runs and take a 3-2 lead.
Josh Swirchak doubled to lead off the fifth inning for the Wildcats before coming around to score on an RBI single from Hampton to tie the game.
In the seventh inning, the Chargers regained the lead after loading the bases with only one out. Jonathan Martinez singled off Nick Marics to bring in the go-ahead run before an RBI groundout by Robert Alonso pushed the Dominican lead to 5-3.
With two outs in the seventh, the Wildcats received three straight singles by Frank Samluk, Hampton, and Matt Lopes, closing the gap to 5-4.
The Wildcats left two batters on in the eighth and another runner on in the ninth before Peter Martinez closed the door with a save in the ninth inning.
Now in desperation mode, the Wildcats fell behind Post in the elimination game after the top of the second before a Mike Annone double to left center allowed Joe Marciano to score the tying run.
Another Lopes sacrifice fly gave the Wildcats a brief 2-1 lead in the third before the Eagles tied the game on a squeeze play in the top of the fourth.
Tied until the sixth, Wildcat starter Ray Gambone pushed the momentum in favor of the Wildcats after getting out of a bases loaded, one-out jam by striking out a batter for the second out and inducing a foul out on the third base side to escape the inning.
In the home half, Annone was at it again with two outs, as he triple to the wall in right center, chasing Marciano all the way from first for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning RBI.
The Wildcats tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh as Hampton singled through the left side to score Jon Castro from third. Lopes rounded out the scoring for the afternoon with his third sacrifice fly of the day, bringing home Swirchak to take a 5-2 lead.
Tyler Fries came on in the top of the ninth and struck out two batters before inducing a ground out to Hampton at third for the final out of the game and keeping the Wildcats alive.
Hampton batted 5-for-7 on the day, 4-for-5 against Dominican, knocking in two while scoring a run. Lopes collected four RBI in the two games combined while Annone went 2-for-4 with two RBI against Post.
Gambone (4-2) earned the win in the nightcap, striking out six in six innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. Fries picked up his seventh save of the season. Jay Kluka (3-2) took the loss in the first game, giving up two runs on two walks and a hit in a third of an inning.
The Wildcats will now play the loser of the winner's bracket game between second seeded Felician and fifth seeded Dominican. That game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start at Wilson Field followed by the Wildcats' game at approximately 2:30 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Josh Hampton Keeps Wilmington Baseball Alive as Wildcats Defeat Dominican, 2-1, in CACC Tournament
DATE: May 9, 2014
djl
NEW
CASTLE, Del. - - Josh Hampton batted 3-for-4 and scored both runs as
the top seeded Wilmington University baseball team stayed alive in the
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament by defeating fifth
seeded Dominican, 2-1, on Friday afternoon at Wilson Field.
With the
winner advancing to the CACC Tournament Championship and the loser being
eliminated, the game was intensified and the Wildcats (34-8-1 overall)
hung on down the stretch even as Dominican (22-24) left the tying run on
third in the bottom of the ninth.
Hampton (West Grove, Pa./Avon
Grove) continued his strong CACC Tournament play in the top of the first
of today's game, hitting a two-out, bases empty single through the
right side. After stealing second, Hampton came around to score the
team's first run on a Matt Lopes double that hugged the left field line
but stayed fair.
Leading off the fourth inning, Hampton led off the
frame with a triple to right center, lining a ball halfway up the fence
in center field, just to the right of the batter's eye. Two batters
later, Hampton scored his second run of the game as Joe Marciano singled
off Dominican starter Brett Schneider's leg on the mound.
Wilmington
starting pitcher Frank Samluk worked his way through seven innings,
throwing 104 innings while only allowing one run on three hits. He
struck out five batters but walked an unusual three batters for the
junior righty.
The Chargers picked up their lone run of the afternoon on one swing of the bat in the top of the seventh.
With
one out in the inning, switch hitting catcher Tyler Clark blasted his
first home run of the season to nearly the same spot that Hampton hit
his triple, but hitting his over the fence to cut the deficit in half.
With two outs in the inning, the Chargers put two runners on by a walk
and a single, but Samluk struck out Kyle Hall looking to end the threat,
the inning, and his outing.
Nick Marics came on for the eighth
inning and allowed a one out single to CACC Rookie of the Year Jayson
Gray. But Gray was eliminated by Lopes who threw out Gray who was
attempting to steal second. It was only the third time in 46 attempts
that Gray has been caught trying to swipe a bag.
Kyle Lindstrom hit a
pinch hit double in the eighth but pinch runner Tory Manfre was left
stranded at third with one out in the inning, as the Wildcats were
unable to pick up an insurance run.
Tyler Fries came on looking for
his second save of the CACC Tournament, but Clark doubled down the left
field line with one out in the inning to spark a last ditch rally for
the Chargers.
Fries induced Carlos Lopez into a comebacker to the
mound before striking out Christopher Cockle to end the game and keep
Wilmington alive.
Hampton was a home run shy of the cycle on Friday,
while Lopes, Marciano, and Lindstrom collected the other three hits for
the Wildcats.
Samluk is now 5-0 on the season while Fries earned his eighth save of the season.
The
Wildcats will square off against second seeded Felician on Saturday for
the CACC Tournament Championship, with the Wildcats needing to win two
games after coming out of the loser's bracket.
The first pitch of the CACC Tournament Championship is set for 11 a.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Five Wilmington University Baseball Student Athletes Earn NCBWA All-Region Honors
DATE: May 15, 2014
djl
BRIDGEPORT,
Conn. - - Heading into the 2014 NCAA Division II East Regional
Tournament, five Wilmington University baseball student-athletes were
named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-East
Region Team, led by four members on the Second Team.
Juniors Matt
Lopes, Frank Samluk, Jamie Treml, and Tyler Fries were named Second Team
honorees while senior Josh Hampton earned Honorable Mention recognized
as the teams were announced Thursday afternoon.
Following the Central
Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament last weekend, Lopes
(Deerfield Beach, Fla.) leads the conference with a .385 batting average
to earn his second straight NCBWA All-East Region Second team honor.
The junior catcher has seven doubled on the year to go along with 18
RBI, throwing out nine batters attempting to steal as well.
Samluk
(Middletown, Del.) also earns his second straight Second Team
recognition for NCBWA after playing the infield, outfield, and pitching
his way into the utility spot for the second straight year. The junior
is hitting .354 after the CACC Tournament, collecting six doubles with
16 RBI, and scoring 26 more runs for the Wildcats. On the mound, he is
6-0 in 11 appearances, earning a 1.77 earned run average with 10 starts
on the season. He has struck out a team high 56 batters in 56 innings.
Treml
(Newark, Del.) returns to All-Region recognition after missing the most
of last year due to an injury. It is the first time of his career being
honor on an NCBWA All-East Region Team but earned ABCA honors in 2012.
He comes into the East Regional Tournament with an 8-0 record and a 1.12
earned run average, tops in the CACC. In 40 innings of work, the junior
has collected 54 strikeouts and only 14 walks.
Fries (Kennett
Square, Pa.) earns his first All-Region honor as a junior after leading
the CACC with eight saves, picking up two in the CACC Tournament. He
comes into the Regional Tournament with a team high 23 appearances,
going 2-0 in 23.2 innings of work. He has 33 strikeouts to only five
walks, finishing off five shutouts for the Wildcats.
Hampton (West
Grove, Pa.) is an Honorable Mention selection as a senior, a year after
earning First Team NCBWA recognition last season. The third baseman is
second in the CACC with a .383 batting average after a red-hot CACC
Tournament that did not factor into the selections. He leads the CACC
with 18 doubles and is sixth with 33 RBI on the season. The well-rounded
player also leads the team with 101 assists while second on the team
with 14 stolen bases.
Merrimack's third baseman Frank Crinella was
named the 2014 NCBWA East Player of the Year as a sophomore while
Dowling's senior pitcher Tyler Badamo was named the 2014 NCBWA East
Pitcher of the Year.
Leading the Southern New Hampshire baseball team
to its first NE-10 Tournament Championship and the number one seed in
the East Region Tournament, Penmen head coach Scott Loiseau was named
the 2014 NCBWA Coach of the Year.
All first team members of the eight
regions are now eligible for the NCBWA All-America voting process with
the All-American teams being announced later this season.
AGATE:
2014 NCBWA All-East Region Team
First Team:
C ? Matt Walsh, Franklin Pierce
1B ? Scott DeJong, Felician
2B ? Andrew Abreu, Dowling
3B ? Frank Crinella, Merrimack
SS ? Aaron Brill, Felician
OF ? Rich Baerga, St. Thomas Aquinas
OF ? Cliff Brantley, Adelphi
OF ? Brendan O'Brien, Southern New Hampshire
DH ? Richard Mejia, Adelphi
Utility ? Brendan Buckley, New Haven
SP ? Tyler Badamo, Dowling
SP ? Rocco Cundari, Southern Connecticut State
SP ? Jerry Vasto, Felician
RP ? Benjamin Criscuolo
Second Team:
C ? Matt Lopes, Wilmington
1B ? Zach Collett, New Haven
2B ? Nick Baviello, Southern Connecticut State
3B ? Tom Tolan, LIU Post
SS ? Stanley Susana, St. Thomas Aquinas
OF ? John Cruz, Dowling
OF ? John Kennedy, Nyack
OF ? Joe Petosa, Felician
DH ? Derek Hirsch, St. Thomas Aquinas
Utility ? Frank Samluk, Wilmington
SP ? Jim Duff, Stonehill
SP ? Derrick Sylvester, Southern New Hampshire
SP ? Jamie Treml, Wilmington
RP ? Tyler Fries, Wilmington
Honorable Mention:
1B ? Kenny Kirshner, St. Thomas Aquinas
2B ? John Sczepanski, Philadelphia
3B ? Josh Hampton, Wilmington
SS ? Will Brennan, Bentley
OF ? Matt Burn, Southern Connecticut State
OF ? Calvin Graves, Franklin Pierce
Utility ? JC Brandmaier, Dowling
SP ? Don Crook, Post
SP ? Connor Gleason, Franklin Pierce
SP ? Brian O'Keefe, Bridgeport
RP ? CJ Ferrigi, St. Thomas Aquinas
2014 NCBWA East Player of the Year: Frank Crinella, Merrimack
2014 NCBWA East Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Badamo, Dowling
2014 NCBWA Coach of the Year: Scot Losiseau, Southern New Hampshire

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington's Baseball Season Comes to a Close As Wildcats Fall, 4-3, to Southern New Hampshire in East Regional Tournament
DATE: May 17, 2014
djl
MANCHESTER, N.H. - - The Wilmington University baseball team's season came to a unsatisfied close on Saturday afternoon, falling to top seeded Southern New Hampshire, 4-3, in an NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament elimination game at Penmen Field.
After winning the first game of the Regional Tournament, the Wildcats fell in back-to-back games to finish the season 35-11-1 overall. In six Regional Tournaments, the Wildcats are now 7-12 overall.
The Wildcats struck first in Saturday's must win game, putting three on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning.
With one out in the inning, Sam Goines reached on a throwing error to kick start the rally. Joe Marciano, Mike Annone, and Jon Castro all walked in the inning, with Castro's forcing in the game's first run as the bases were loaded.
Facing a new arm, Josh Swirchak fought off an 0-2 count and singled into center field, bringing into both Annone and Lindstrom for a 3-0 Wilmington lead after five full innings.
Working into his sixth inning of work, starter Frank Samluk struck out his fourth batter to start the inning, but that is when the Penmen fought back with a rally of their own.
A walk and a single into center put runners on first and second before another walk loaded the bases, with only one out in the inning. Fighting back form an 0-2 count to work it full, Mike Mastroberti took the sixth pitch of the at-bat and doubled into the gap in left center, chasing all three runners home to even the score at 3-3.
Now working against reliever Nick Marics, Tyler Fortanascio singled through the left side with two outs in the innings, allowing Mastroberti to score from second for the go-ahead run.
Sam Goines was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, stealing second and reaching third on a ground out by Marciano. But with two outs in the inning, reliever Ben Criscuolo got Lindstrom swinging to end the threat.
Jon Castro hit a one out single in the seventh and was standing on third after stealing second and third with only one out in the inning. But Criscuolo induced a grounder to a drawn in shortstop by Swirchak and a fly ball down the right field line by Christian Adorno to end the inning, again leaving the tying run 90 feet away.
From there, Criscuolo set the Wildcats down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings, closing the game and allowing the Penmen to move on to another elimination game later Saturday night.
Swirchak, Josh Hampton, and Castro collected the Wildcats' four hits, with Castro batting 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Swirchak batted 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Samluk was saddled with his first loss of the season, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing four runs on five hits, striking out four batters while walking three. Marics pithed 2.2 innings while striking out a batter and giving up two hits. Tyler Fries came on and tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
Criscuolo earned the win to improve to 6-0 on the year, striking out a pair while allowing two hits in 4.1 innings of work. Penmen starter Cole Warren went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs, all unearned, on two hits. Warren struck out a pair but walked four batters in the no decision.
Saturday marked the end of six Wilmington University seniors, as Marics, Marciano, and Tim Racek helped lead the Wildcats to four straight NCAA East Regional Tournament appearances. Hampton, Lindstrom, and Jarrett Shaffer helped the team to the past two NCAA Division II East Regional Tournaments as transfers.
The senior class also helped the Wildcats in winning three Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championships in the past four years.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Three Run Eighth Inning Gives St. Thomas (Fla.) 6-5 Victory over Wilmington Baseball in Season Debut
DATE: March 3, 2015
djl
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - - A three run bottom of the eighth inning spoiled the Wilmington University 2015 season opener as St. Thomas (Fla.) came back to defeat the Wildcats, 6-5, on Tuesday night at Paul Mainieri Field.
The Wildcats (0-1) broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the top of the eighth inning, but the Bobcats (12-5) scored three times to retake the lead. The Wildcats stranded a runner in scoring position in the top of the ninth, unable to scoring the tying run before the final out was recorded.
Tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning, senior Josh Swirchak started the inning off with his second hit of the ballgame. Senior Matt Lopes sacrificed Swirchak over before Tyler Hawthorne roped a single into centerfield, scoring Swirchak for the go-ahead run.
An error put runners on the corners with only one out before Jesse Long executed a squeeze play to add an insurance run, scoring pinch runner Tory Manfre from third.
But the Bobcats quickly came back in the bottom of the eighth inning, as a two-run triple by Cesar Ramirez tied the game with one out in the inning. Clean-up hitter Jerry Down stepped in and roped a doubled to the gap in right center, easily scoring Ramirez for the eventual game winning run.
Frank Samluk reached base on a throwing error from the Bobcats in the top of the ninth but was left stranded as Swirchak grounded out to end the ballgame.
The Wildcats started out on fire in their 2015 season premier, as Christian Adorno and Mike Annone hit back-to-back singles to lead off the game in the top of the first. Samluk picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice before Matt Lopes collected the fourth single of the inning to pick up the second RBI.
Three straight singles in the top of the sixth gave the Wildcats another run and tied the game at 3-3. Lopes, Hawthorne, and Sean Feeney hit consecutive singles with Feeney's bringing in Lopes to tie the match.
Hawthorne led the Wildcats by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Tuesday night, while Swirchak, Lopes, and Feeney all added two hits each.
Ryan Douglas was saddled with the loss in giving up the three eighth inning runs while Alex Vierra earned the win for the Bobcats, improving to 2-1 overall. Chris Rodriguez picked up his fifth saves of the season.
The Wildcats continue their Florida trip with a game tomorrow night at Palm Beach Atlantic. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. in West Palm Beach.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Offense Struggles but Wilmington Baseball Prevails, 2-0 and 3-1, Over American International
DATE: March 7, 2015
djl
LAKE WORTH, Fla. - - The offensive struggles continued for the Wilmington University baseball team as they only collected seven hits in a doubleheader against American International, but the pitching only allowed four total hits as the Wildcats swept the Yellow Jackets, 2-0 and 3-1, on Saturday at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Starting pitchers Jamie Treml and Ray Gambone shut down the Yellow Jackets (0-2), giving up one unearned run in 11 combined innings of work. Treml tossed the first six innings of game one, striking out six while only allowing two hits to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Gambone struck out a pair in five innings while allowing one hit to improve to 1-0 in the seven-inning win.
It was a two-run fourth inning that allowed the Wildcats (3-3) to come away with the victory in game one. After leading off the inning with a single to right field, Jon Castro was able to come all the way around to score the game's first run when Frank Samluk collided with the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt and an errant throw to first. Now on third, Samluk scored on a double steal, scoring on the throw as Tyler Hawthorne took second base.
The two runs were more than enough for Treml who came out and struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth on nine pitches. Mike Torres replaced Treml in the bottom of the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame as Castro picked off a runner at first to end the inning. Kyle Menchaca pitched a scoreless eighth inning with a 1-2-3 inning before Tyler Fries picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The four pitchers combined for the team's first shutout of the 2015 season, striking out eight while allowing four walks and three hits. Treml earned the victory to improve to 2-0 on the year and to come within a single win of tying the program record for career wins, sitting at 25.
Gambone owned the second game, keeping American International to only one hit in five innings before turning it over to Ryan Douglas and Fries to close out the victory.
The offense came around in the first inning, as the first three batters reached base. Christian Adorno and Castro singled before Sam Goines walked with no outs. Sean Feeney roped a single into centerfield to plate Adorno for the 1-0 lead but the Wildcats couldn't cash in any more runs as Hawthorne lined into an inning ending double play.
A wild play in the fourth plated another run for the Wildcats after Kyle Fries started the winning with a single. With the bases loaded, AIC centerfielder Dave Clark dropped a fly ball, allowing Fries to score but the Yellow Jackets recorded an out at third on the confusion.
The lone hiccup from Gambone came in the top of the fifth, as single down the left field line to put runners on first and third. AIC cut the deficit in half by scoring on a double steal, but Gambone got out of the jam as Brendan Fallers tracked down a blooper in shallow right field.
Ryan Douglas came on in the sixth and quickly recorded a pair of outs. After hitting a pair of batters, Douglas got out of the inning on a nice play by Connor Stevens at third, charging a bunt in the grass.
Tyler Fries entered in the seventh and tossed a 1-2-3 inning for his second save of the afternoon, totaling his third of the season.
The Wildcats close out their Florida trip on Sunday with another regional doubleheader. The Wildcats square off against Merrimack starting at 12 p.m. played at Barry University.

 

[dawrestling]

UBJECT: Bats Come Alive for Wilmington Baseball in 8-1 Victory over In-State Rival Delaware
DATE: March 11, 2015
djl
NEWARK, Del. - - The bats came alive for the Wilmington University baseball team as it produced the most runs and hits in a single game so far this season in an 8-1 victory over NCAA Division I crosstown rival Delaware on Wednesday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
For the fifth time in the last seven games against their crosstown rival, the Wildcats (4-5) took down the Blue Hens (4-4) while producing season highs of 13 hits and eight runs scored. The Blue Hens put pressure on the Wildcats all afternoon long but the seven pitchers the Wildcats used left 12 runners on base to get out of jams in nearly every inning.
The Wildcats struck quickly in the top of the first inning as Jon Castro hit a one out triple to the wall in left center. Mike Annone pulled one on the ground to the right side, allowing Castro to score for the game's first run.
Sean Feeney doubled to the same gap with one out in the top of the fourth inning and trotted home as Sam Goines tripled to the right center field gap in the next at-bat.
The Blue Hens cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Ty Warrington singled home Brock Niggebrugge. Freshman pitcher Matt Frost worked out of a two on, one out jam to keep the Wildcats in front, inducing an infield fly and a fly out to end the inning.
The Wildcats answered the call in the next half inning, scoring twice to put some distance between them and the Blue Hens. With two outs and the bases empty, Feeney started a tally with a single and came home on a Goines double off the wall in dead center. Frank Samluk followed suit with a single back up the middle, scoring Goines for the 4-1 lead.
Peter Monahan escaped a jam in the bottom of the sixth inducing a ground ball double play after allowing the first two batters on base. Ryan Douglas induced another double play in the seventh inning, ending the frame as the Blue Hens put two on with one out. Kyle Menchaca stranded two runners in eighth inning, getting a fly ball to end the inning with runners on second and third.
The Wildcats added four insurance runs on three hits in the top of the ninth, aided by two Delaware errors. Tyler Hawthorne delivered with a pinch-hit RBI single while the Wildcats also scored on a failed pick off play, a wild pitch, and a balk in the inning.
Mike Torres closed out the contest by leaving two more Blue Hens on base in the bottom of the ninth after a lead off single and a double with no outs. Torres picked up back-to-back strikeouts before inducing a game ending ground to Christian Adorno at short.
Adorno led all Wildcats with three hits including a double and a run scored. Castro, Feeney, Goines, and Samluk each added two hits apiece. Tyler Newton earned the start and tossed two scoreless innings while only allowing one hit. Zach Rumford earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits.
The Wildcats are back in action against Mercy on Thursday, playing at Mercy in a game that has switched home fields. The Wildcats and Mavericks start the nonconference doubleheader at 12 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Hawthorne the Hero in Game One; Annone's Near Cycle in Game Two Lead Wilmington Baseball Past Chestnut Hill
DATE: April 1, 2015
djl
NORRISTOWN, Pa. - - The Wilmington University baseball team remained unbeaten in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping Chestnut Hill, 6-4 and 10-0, on the road at Latshaw-McCarthy Field.
In a battle of NCBWA East Regionally ranked teams, the No. 6 Wildcats (18-7, 8-0 CACC) scored late in both games to down the No. 8 Griffins (12-7, 7-3 CACC) and remain atop the CACC standings.
Senior first baseman Tyler Hawthorne doubled to right center with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie in the first game before the Wildcats scored six runs in the final three innings to break open the nightcap.
The Griffins answered each of the Wildcats scoring innings in the first game, as the Griffins tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the third. Matt Lopes singled home Sam Goines in the top of the fifth for the 4-3 lead but Chestnut Hill tied the game once again in the bottom half with an unearned run.
Josh Swirchak started the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line before Lopes sacrificed his at-bat to put Swirchak and Goines in scoring position with one out. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Hawthorne took a full count pitch to the game in right center for two runs and the 6-4 lead.
Mike Torres gave up a hit in the bottom of the seventh but picked off the runner at second for the final out of the inning. Kyle Menchaca tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth before Tyler Fries ended the game with a perfect ninth for his seventh save of the season.
Starter Frank Samluk pitched six inning while striking out eight batters and only allowing one walk. He gave up seven hits and four runs (two earned) but earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the year.
The offense started fast in game two, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after three full innings.
Jon Castro scored on an error in the top of the first before Tory Manfre knocked in a run with a double to left in the second. Castro scored again in the third on a first and third double steal before Lopes brought in another run with an RBI single.
That was more than enough for the four Wildcat pitchers as Jake Wersinger went the first 5.2 scoreless innings to earn the win and improve to 2-2 on the year. He allowing two hits and three walks but struck out three batters.
Zach Rumford went the next 1.1 scoreless while picking up two strikeouts, including one to get out of a two-on jam in the sixth. Peter Monahan tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a strikeout before Menchaca struck out two more in the ninth to close out the sweep.
Goines earned an RBI on a bases loaded walk in the seventh before Conor Steven picked up an RBI on a ground out in the eighth. Mike Annone broke the game wide open in the top of the ninth, launching a grand slam to right with two outs in the inning.
Swirchak and Lopes had two hits each in game one to lead the offense, with both of Swirchak's hits coming as doubles. Annone was a triple away from hitting the cycle in game two, batting 4-for5 with four RBI and two runs scored while Manfre was the only other Wildcats with multiple hits in game two, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Both Swirchak and Lopes added hits in game two to finished the doubleheader with three hits each.
The Wildcats round out their busy week with another CACC doubleheader on Saturday, hosting Felician at Wilson Field for their sixth and seventh games of the week. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled for 12 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

jl
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - A pair of repeat honorees were named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Players of the Week for the Wilmington University athletics department as golf's Andreas Lunding and baseball's Frank Samluk earned top honors on Monday, as announced by the conference office.
It is the fourth week in a row that a Wilmington baseball player has been named the CACC Player of the Week while it is the second time in a row Lunding has been named the CACC Player of the Week for the Wildcats. It is also the second time Samluk has been named on the Weekly Report, earning CACC Pitcher of the Week on March 16.
Lunding (Horsholm, Denmark) led the Wildcats in their lone tournament of the week, finishing in a tie for seventh overall at the Buccaneer Invitational hosted by Barry University. Lunding had the Wildcats in a tie for seventh overall with a Wildcat best 68 in the first round last Monday, before finishing the day with a 76 and in seventh place. The junior finished out the invitational with a 70 on Tuesday to give him a 214 (+1) three round score.
The seventh place finish is the third straight top-10 finish for Lunding after finishing first and second, respectively, at the GBC Spring Invite and the Spring Griffin Invite the week prior. The seventh place finish among nationally ranked teams at the Buccaneer Invitational has moved Lunding up to No. 6 in the East Region according to GolfStat.com.
Samluk (Middletown, Del.) was a do-it-all player for the Wildcats last week, leading the baseball team to a 6-1 record. Samluk batted .517 for the week, going 15-for-29 with at least one hit in all seven games. From atop the Wildcat lineup, Samluk has two hits in each game of the doubleheader against Dowling and picked up four hits in each game of a doubleheader sweep over Felician.
Capping the week on Saturday, the senior batted 4-for-6 with two doubles and three runs scored in the first game against Felician before hitting 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in the nightcap against the Golden Falcons.
In his lone start of the week, Samluk picked up a win over Chestnut Hill to improve to 4-0 on the year. He struck out eight batters in six innings despite giving up seven hits and a walk. Samluk now leads the CACC with four wins, is fifth in 37 strikeouts, and eighth with a 2.10 ERA.
Softball's Colby Wyatt was named to the Honor Roll for her sport, as was baseball's Matt Lopes. Wyatt batted 6-for-7 with three doubles and four RBI in three games for the Wildcats while Lopes led the baseball team with 12 RBI, belting his third home run of the season against Felician while hitting .478 for the week.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Eight Wilmington Baseball Players Earn First Team All-CACC; Goines and August Earn Major Awards
DATE: May 4, 2015
djl
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Leading up to hosting the 2015 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament later this week, the Wilmington University baseball team had eight student-athletes named First Team All-CACC Monday morning, including the CACC Player and Coach of the Year.
In a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches, senior outfielder Sam Goines was named the CACC Player of the Year after helping the Wildcats (30-12, 18-2 CACC) to the CACC Regular Season Championship and a bye in the first round of the CACC Tournament. Head coach Brian August was named the BSN Sports/CACC Coach of the Year for the second time in his 11 seasons at the helm after leading the team to the top of the CACC Regular Season standings.
The Wildcats posted eight players on First Team All-CACC: senior catcher Matt Lopes, senior second baseman Josh Swirchak, junior third baseman Mike Annone, sophomore shortstop Christian Adorno, senior outfielder Sam Goines, senior starting pitcher Jamie Treml, senior relief pitcher Tyler Fries, and senior utility player Frank Samluk.
Goines (Wilmington, Del./A.I. duPont) led the CACC with a .420 batting average, 60 hits, 46 runs scored, a .517 on-base percentage, and a .580 slugging percentage. He collected 31 hits against CACC opponents, hitting a league best .470 against the conference. He was second in the CACC with 83 total bases, hitting 10 doubles, and a league third best five triples. He also finished fourth with 35 RBI and 20 stolen bases on the year.
Lopes (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) led the Wildcats and was second in the CACC with 40 RBI during the regular season. His four home runs is third in the CACC while he batted .331 on the year, 11th best in the conference. Against CACC opponents, Lopes hit .423 with a .620 slugging percentage, bringing in 26 RBI and scoring 15 more. He also caught and managed the league’s top pitching staff, throwing out 11 would be base stealers.
After coming back from an early season injury, Swirchak (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) finished fourth in the CACC with 55 hits, finishing mere points behind Goines for the batting title, hitting .417 on the year. He was also second with a .509 on-base percentage and fourth with a .581 slugging percentage, hitting nine doubles, four triples, and two home runs. His 45 runs scored are second in the CACC, 29 of which came against CACC opponents.
Annone (Wilmington, Del./Concord) hit .308 during the regular season, finishing third in the CACC with four home runs, fourth with 35 RBI, eighth with 11 doubles, and ninth with 72 total bases and a .493 slugging percentage. He has seven doubles against CACC teams alone, slugging .603 against the conference.
Adorno (Milleville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) is one of the best fielding shortstops in the region and came on strong in the second half of the year with the bat. His .368 batting average is sixth in the CACC while he gets on-base at a 43.5 percent clip, eighth best in the CACC. Adorno has tallied 50 hits this season, 26 against CACC opponents. He has knocked in 22 runners while scoring 29 more, hitting four doubles and adding one triple. He also has 98 assists, turning 21 doubles plays on the year, seventh most in the CACC.
Samluk (Middletown, Del./St. Elizabeth’s) pulled double duty for the Wildcats, playing the field when not starting on the mound. He started 28 games at first base, four games in right field, seven games as the designated hitter, and nine games on the mound. His .354 batting average is seventh best in the CACC, as is his .513 slugging percentage. He has scored a CACC second most 45 runs, collecting the third most hits (56). His 12 doubles are fourth in the CACC while he also has two triples and three home runs. In nine appearances on the mound, he is 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA, striking out a team best 54 batters. He is third in the CACC in averaging 10.06 strikeouts per nine innings.
Treml (Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo Tech) led all starters with a 1.14 earned run average on the season, going a perfect 6-0 in nine appearances. In 47.1 innings pitched, Treml has 50 strikeouts, only allowing six runs (all earned) on the season. He’s only allowed 24 hits, with batters hitting .155 against the lefty. He set Wilmington career records in strikeouts and wins this season, totaling 306 whiffs and 29 career wins to this point.
Fries (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) has appeared in 22 games this year, earning a CACC best nine saves. He is 2-1 on the mound in 26.1 innings pitched, finishing the regular season with a 1.03 earned run average. He is averaging 10.59 strikeouts per nine innings, striking out 31 batters. His nine saves give him 17 for his career, tying the all-time program record.
Chestnut Hill’s ace Dominic Raia was voted at the 2015 CACC Pitcher of the Year while Felician’s Bruce Strickland was named the 2015 CACC Rookie of the Year. University of the Sciences was given the CACC Team Sportsmanship Award.
All the CACC award winners, as well as the four teams participating in the double-elimination portion of the CACC Tournament, will be honored at the CACC Awards Banquet on Wednesday night on the campus of Wilmington University. Play begins Thursday morning at Wilson Field.
AGATE:
2015 All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Baseball Teams:
First Team:
C – Matt Lopes, Wilmington University
1B – Brennan Price, Felician College
2B – Josh Swirchak, Wilmington University
3B – Mike Annone, Wilmington University
SS – Christian Adorno, Wilmington University
OF – Christian Fiorito, Concordia College
OF – Sam Goines, Wilmington University
OF – Erik Poldroo, Concordia College
P – Mike Costello, Post University
P – Dominic Raia, Chestnut Hill College
P – Jamie Treml, Wilmington University
RP – Tyler Fries, Wilmington University
Util – Frank Samluk, Wilmington University
DH – Brendan Looby, Chestnut Hill College
Second Team:
C – John Brocious, Philadelphia University
1B – Carlos Lopez, Dominican College
2B – Alec Craig, Chestnut Hill College
3B – Dylan Pastor, Post University
SS – Robert Alonso, Dominican College
OF – Jason Gray, Dominican College
OF – Michael McLaughlin, Chestnut Hill College
OF – Alex Wright, Post University
P – Robert Humes, Caldwell University
P – Peter Martinez, Dominican College
P – Francesco Scudiero, Bloomfield College
RP – Corey Pic, Dominican College
Util – Brian Bilello, Concordia College
DH – Don Walsh, Post University
2015 CACC Regular Season Champion: Wilmington University
2015 CACC Player of the Year: Sam Goines, Wilmington University
2015 CACC Pitcher of the Year: Dominic Raia, Chestnut Hill College
2015 CACC Rookie of the Year: Bruce Strickland, Felician College
2015 BSN Sports/CACC Coach of the Year: Brian August, Wilmington University
2015 CACC Team Sportsmanship Award: University of the Sciences

 

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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team starts the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Thursday looking for its fourth tournament crown in the past five years. The Tournament will be hosted in its entirety at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats (30-12) earned the top seed in the tournament with an 18-2 CACC record on the season and will square off against fourth seeded Dominican (20-23) who defeated fifth seeded Concordia, 16-5, in the first round last Saturday.
The Tournament begins Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. with three games planned for the first day. A champion will be crowned on Saturday with the winner receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament.
Links to Follow the CACC Tournament:
Live Video/Audio (all games): http://collegetvticket.com/schedule/index
Live Stats (all games): http://www.wilmu.edu/athletics/livestats/baseball/xlive.htm
CACC Tournament Central: http://www.caccathletics.org/sports/bsb/2014-15/championship
Scouting the No. 1 Wilmington University Wildcats:
The Wildcats were one doubleheader away from becoming the first CACC team to go through a conference season undefeated, but dropped two games to Post on the last day of the CACC schedule. The Wildcats haven’t played since that doubleheader in Connecticut on April 28, and are actually riding a three-game losing streak coming into the Tournament, their longest of the season.
The Wildcats boast impressive numbers on the field, which turned into eight student-athletes being honored as First Team All-CACC members. Outfielder Sam Goines was named the CACC Player of the Year while catcher Matt Lopes, second baseman Josh Swirchak, shortstop Christian Adorno, third baseman Mike Annone, utility man Frank Samluk, starting pitcher Jamie Treml, and reliever Tyler Fries all joined Goines on the First Team.
As a team, the Wildcats are first in the CACC in runs (304), hits (442), RBI (261), total bases (596), sacrifice hits (70), batting average (.312), on-base percentage (.395), slugging percentage (.420), and earned run average (3.06). They are also second in the CACC in doubled (68), triples (19), home runs (16), and opponents’ batting average (.239).
The Wildcats are the only team to be hitting above .300, as Chestnut Hill is second in the CACC with a .288 average. Post is second in the CACC with a 3.59 team ERA. The Wildcats are also third in the CACC with a .961 fielding percentage.
Scouting the No. 4 Dominican College Chargers:
The Chargers come into New Castle after posting their second highest run total of the year in the First Round of the CACC Tournament. The put up 16 runs on 16 hits, led by Jayson Gray, Mark Vargas, and Carlos Cabrera who all contributed three hits each. Cabrera led the team with four RBI while Vargas added three RBI in the win.
Peter Martinez earned the win over Concordia with six strong innings, striking out nine batters while allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits. He improved to 5-2 on the year with the win. Anthony Pastrana earned his first save of the year with three innings of relief against Concordia, striking out five while only giving up one walk in the outing.
Dominican had five players named Second Team All-CACC as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. First baseman Carlos Lopez, shortstop Robert Alonso, outfielder Jayson Gray, starting pitcher Peter Martinez, and reliever Corey Pic were all mentioned on the All-CACC Second Team announced earlier this week.
As a team, Dominican is fourth in the CACC in runs (238), third in hits (385), third in RBI (203), second in stolen bases (91), fourth in batting average (.267), fourth in on0base percentage (.358), and sixth in slugging (.348). As a staff, the Chargers are seventh in the CACC with a 4.88 earned run average, and seventh in allowing batters to hit .280 on the year. Defensively, the Chargers are sixth in the CACC with a .947 fielding percentage.
Wilmington in the CACC Tournament:
2005 (1-2): # 4 Wilmington def. #1 NJIT 7-1; #2 Dominican def. #4 Wilmington 6-1; #1 NJIT def. #4 Wilmington 6-3
2006 (0-2): #3 Bloomfield def. #2 Wilmington 6-2; #1 Dominican def. def. #2 Wilmington 2-1
2007 (3-0): #2 Wilmington def. #3 Felician 14-11; #2 Wilmington def. #4 Dominican, 1-0 #2 Wilmington def. #1 Caldwell 10-7 (Championship)
2008: DNP
2009 (3-0): #3 Wilmington def. #2 Bloomfield 12-7; #3 Wilmington def. #4 Nyack 6-3; #3 Wilmington def. #1 Dominican 5-4 (Championship)
2010 (1-2): #5 Post def. #1 Wilmington 4-2; #1 Wilmington def. #3 Felician 4-0; ; #5 Post def. #1 Wilmington 8-4
2011 (3-0): #2 Wilmington def. #3 Post 9-0; #2 Wilmington def. #1 Dominican 3-0; #2 Wilmington def. #1 Dominican 10-3 (Championship)
2012 (3-0): #2 Wilmington def. #3 Dominican 1-0; #2 Wilmington def. Felician 4-2; #2 Wilmington def. #1 Felician 1-0 (Championship)
2013 (3-0): #1 Wilmington def. #5 Felician, 5- 4; #1 Wilmington def. #6 Chestnut Hill, 10-0; #1 Wilmington def. #6 Chestnut Hill, 15-0 (Championship)
2014 (2-2): #5 Dominican def. #1 Wilmington, 5-4; #1 Wilmington def. #6 Post, 5-2; #1 Wilmington def. #5 Dominican, 2-1; #2 Felician def. #1 Wilmington, 8-3 (Championship)
Overall: 19-9
Season and All-Time Records vs. CACC Double Elimination Tournament Participants:
#1 Wilmington University Wildcats
#2 Post University Eagles: 2015 – 0-2 away (3-4/3-8); All-Time – 24-7; CACC Tournament – 2-2
#3 Chestnut Hill College Griffins: 2015 – 2-0 away (6-4/10-0); All-Time – 20-2; CACC Tournament – 2-0
#4 Dominican College Chargers: 2015 – 2-0 away (6-3/9-2); All-Time – 17-19; CACC Tournament – 6-3
2015 CACC Baseball Tournament Game Schedule:
Saturday, May 2 on Campus sites – Single Elimination
#3 Chestnut Hill def. #6 Felician, 6-4
#4 Dominican def. #5 Concordia, 16-5
Thursday, May 7 at Wilson Field – Double Elimination
Game 1: #1 Wilmington vs. #4 Dominican – 9:00 a.m.
Game 2: #2 Post vs. #3 Chestnut Hill – 12:00 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 3:00 p.m.
Friday, May 8 at Wilson Field
Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 11:00 a.m.
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 at Wilson Field
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 11:00 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary) – 2:00 p.m.


Wilmington University Mission

Wilmington University is committed to excellence in teaching, relevancy of the curriculum, and individual attention to students. As an institution with admissions policies that provide access for all, it offers opportunity for higher education to students of varying ages, interests, and aspirations.

The university provides a range of exemplary career-oriented undergraduate and graduate degree programs for a growing and diverse student population. It delivers these programs at locations and times convenient to students and at an affordable price. A highly qualified full-time faculty works closely with part-time faculty drawn from the workplace to ensure that the university’s programs prepare students to begin or continue their career, improve their competitiveness in the job market, and engage in lifelong learning.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wildcats Advance to CACC Baseball Tournament Championship with 13-0 Victory over Chestnut Hill; Will Face Griffins Again in Championship
DATE: May 8, 2015
djl
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - After escaping a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning the Wilmington University baseball team put up 13 runs on 16 hits to advance to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship with a 13-0 victory over third seeded Chestnut Hill on Friday afternoon at Wilson Field.
This is the fifth straight year the Wildcats (32-12) will take part in the CACC Tournament Championship game, winning three straight from 2010-13. The team lost in the CACC Tournament Championship game last year.
The Wildcats put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning after start Frank Samluk got out of a bases loaded jam with two outs, striking out Robert Slagle to end the threat.
Samluk got redemption in the bottom of the first, leading off the batting order with a single. Samluk roped a single into center that bounced past the center fielder, allowing Samluk to get all the way to third base. Christian Adorno walked and Josh Swirchak lined a double over the head of the left fielder. Adorno was waved around from first, avoiding the tag at home to make it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
Sam Goines followed with an RBI single to right center, bringing in Swirchak for the 3-0 lead. Tyler Hawthorne finished the scoring off with an RBI infield single, bringing in Goines.
Samluk threw 44 pitches through the first two innings but settled down to battle through seven innings.
The score was still 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth when the Griffins went to the bullpen. The Wildcats got to the bullpen quickly, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, receiving an RBI from Adorno on a perfectly executed squeeze play, getting the bat on the ball even though the ball was in the dirt. Adorno and Samluk then executed a double steal with runners at first and third, as Samluk slid home for the 6-0 lead.
Samluk needed help to get through the top of the seventh inning, as the Griffins had two runners on without an out being recorded. Samluk picked up his fifth strikeout of the game for the first out before inducing a 6-3 double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
Tyler Hawthorne doubled in a run to start a six run seventh inning for the offense. Samluk walked with the bases loaded while Adorno knocked in a pair with a single to left. Goines doubled to left for another RBI before Matt Lopes capped the scoring with an RBI single down the third base line.
Rob Gore relieved Samluk in the eighth and tossed a scoreless inning before Kyle Menchace tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve the shutout.
Lopes led the offense with three hits on Friday while Adorno and Swirchak led the team with three RBI each. Both Goines and Hawthorne knocked in a pair with two hits each. Samluk, Swirchak, Goines, Hawthorne, and Tory Manfre collected two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats only need to win one game on Saturday in the Championship, with the game scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. The "if necessary" game will immediately follow the end of the first game tomorrow.
The Wildcats will face the Griffins in a rematch as Chestnut Hill defeated second seeded Post, 6-2, in the elimination game on Friday afternoon.

 

[dawrestling]

DATE: May 9, 2015
jw
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team secured their
fourth Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship in
the past five years by coming back to defeat Chestnut Hill, 10-9, in extra
innings on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
The top seeded Wildcats (33-12) came into the contest with the odds in
their favor, as they worked through the winner's bracket and only needed to
win one game on Saturday. They squared off against the third seeded
Griffins (29-14) in a rematch of the 2013 tournament finals, and having
already defeated the Griffins, 13-0, in the winner's bracket on Friday. The
Wildcats would need to mount a late game comeback and use a walk-off hit
from backup catcher Tom Freeland to secure the victory.
The Griffins jumped out to a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the third
inning, and led 7-2 after four complete innings. The Wildcats started to
chip away at the lead, scoring two in the fifth, one in in the sixth, and
one in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-6. But the real fun didn't start
until the ninth inning.
The ninth inning began with the Griffins scoring two quick runs from Mike
McLaughlin and Brendan Looby to give Chestnut Hill a three-run lead once
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djl
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team already knew its ticket was punched to the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, but learned its fate on Sunday night as they earned the fourth seed and will face No. 3 Southern New Hampshire in the first round in Rindge, N.H., on Thursday.
The Wildcats (33-12) earned the automatic qualification into the NCAA East Region Tournament by winning the 2015 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Saturday. The Wildcats are making their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA East Region Tournament.
Top seeded Franklin Pierce will host the tournament starting on Thursday while a champion will be crowned on Sunday afternoon.
More information about the tournament will be posted as it becomes available throughout the week.
NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament
Hosted by Franklin Pierce University
Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field (Rindge, N.H.)
1. Franklin Pierce (46-2)*
2. Stonehill (33-13-1)
3. Southern New Hampshire (30-12)
4. Wilmington (33-12)*
5. Dowling (27-15)
6. St. Thomas Aquinas (27-17-1)*
* - denotes automatic qualifier

 

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RINDGE, N.H. - - A three-run eighth inning pushed the Wilmington University baseball team past Southern New Hampshire, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA East Regional Tournament on Thursday night at Franklin Pierce's Pappas Field.
The Penmen (30-13) had a leadoff single and a two-run home run in the first two batters of the bottom of the first, but Wildcat (34-12) starter Jamie Treml settled in from there, tossing a strong eight innings while striking out 12.
The Wildcats didn't collect a hit off Penmen starter Cole Warren the top of the sixth inning, as Sean Feeney led off the frame with a single to left field. The offense only left solo runners on in the top of the second, sixth, and seventh innings before the offense came alive in the top of the eighth.
With Warren still on the mound in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats put the first two runners of the inning on with hit-by-pitches, setting up the rest of the inning. After Warren picked up an out on a strikeout, Frank Samluk doubled to right center to put the Wildcats on the board. Feeney then raced home to tie the game on a passed ball, also allowing Samluk to move to third.
Jon Castro roped a ball to the gap in left center, but Kyle McGinnity tracked the ball down in left center for the Penmen, driving to make the second out of the inning. The ball was deep enough to score Samluk, however, giving the Wildcats the 3-2 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Penmen threatened with a hit and an error, putting runners on first and third. Treml induced a fly ball to center to end the threat and get out of the jam unscathed.
Tyler Fries relieved Treml in the bottom of the ninth, working around a leadoff single by picking up two strikeouts before inducing a foul out to first base to end the game.
Treml struck out 12 while only allowing the two first inning runs on five hits. He improved to 8-0 on the year with the win, not having lost since April 1, 2012. Fries picked up his 11th save of the season while Warren fell to 2-2 on the year for the Penmen.
With the win, the Wildcats move on to play second seeded Stonehill on Friday at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks defeated Dowling, 5-2, in the second game on Thursday.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wildcats Come Back Again in the Eighth, Defeat Stonehill, 4-3, on Day Two of NCAA Division II East Region Baseball Tournament
DATE: May 15, 2015
djl
RINDGE, N.H. - - For the second night in a row the eighth inning provided the magic for the Wilmington University baseball team as it scored twice to overtake Stonehill, 4-3, to remain in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament hosted by Franklin Pierce University.
Senior Josh Swirchak singled in the game tying run with one out in the bottom of the eighth, bringing in Frank Samluk who walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Christian Adorno.
Now with the bases loaded and still one out in the inning, Mike Annone lofted one to right which fell between the right fielder and the second baseman, bringing in the go-ahead run in Swirchak.
Tyler Fries came on in the top of the ninth and allowed a leadoff single, but bunkered down to pick up his 12th save of the season. He induced a 5-4-3 double play to erase the base runner and Annone ended the game with a catch up against the fence down the left field line in foul ground, falling to the ground but securing the catch.
Jake Wersinger replaced the Wildcats' (35-12) starter Frank Samluk in the top of the seventh, tossing two solid innings of relief to keep the Wildcats within a run at 3-2. Wersinger earned the win to improve to 5-2 on the year in two innings of work, striking out two while allowing two singles. Samluk went the first six innings, striking out nine while allowing three runs on nine hits in the no decision.
Sam Goines started the scoring in the bottom of the first for the Wildcats, doubling inside the bag at third to score Adorno and Swirchak for the quick 2-0 lead.
Stonehill (34-14-1) scored all three runs in the top of the fourth inning, getting a two-out, two-run triple, and an RBI double to take the lead 3-2.
Skyhawk starter Armand Rugel went 7.1 innings, striking out five while allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Swirchak collected the game tying RBI off Stonehill reliever Aubrey Solomon who gave up allowed a unearned run on two hits in not picking up an out. Solomon fell to 2-2 on the year with the loss.
With the win, the Wildcats move on to play the winner of a St. Thomas Aquinas and Stonehill matchup at 10 p.m. on Saturday night. St. Thomas Aquinas and Stonehill play the first game of the day on Saturday at 3 p.m., with the winner moving on to face the Wildcats in the nightcap at 10 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

RINDGE, N.H. - - The Wilmington University baseball team will play for a NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Championship as they defeated top seeded and nationally top ranked Franklin Pierce, 5-3, in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon at Pappas Field.
With the win, the Wildcats will have a rematch against St. Thomas Aquinas in the final on Sunday at 5 p.m. The winner advances to the NCAA Division II World Series in Cary, N.C.
The Wildcats used a four run top of the fourth inning to take the lead, a lead they would never relinquish. With two outs and the bases empty, Matt Lopes started the rally with a single up the middle. Sean Feeney got a big bounce over the first baseman for runners on first and third. Christian Adorno loaded the bases by reaching on a catcher's interference call.
Mike Annone ripped the first pitch he saw passed a diving second baseman for two RBI and the ball snuck past the center fielder, allowing the third runner to come home and Annone to take third base. Brendan Fallers then laced a single back up the middle to bring in pinch runner Connor Stevens for the 4-1 lead.
Lopes added to the Wilmington lead with a single back up the middle in the top of the eighth, scoring Josh Swirchak who led off the frame by reaching on a hit-by-pitch.
Ray Gambone allowed a solo homer to left in the third and a single run in the bottom of the fifth but was relentless in his seven innings of work. Jake Wersinger picked up the first out of the eighth inning before turning it over to Tyler Fries.
The Raven loaded the bases in the eighth but only scored one run, as Fries induced a grounder back to the mound and a infield pop up to get out of the jam.
Fries allowed a base hit bunt to lead of the bottom of the ninth, but then induced a fielder's choice to second, and back-to-back fly outs to end the contest.
Gambone struck out seven in the win, improving to 5-1 on the year. Fries earned his 13th save of the season, tossing 1.2 innings.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball Claims 2015 NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Championship with 11-9 Victory over St. Thomas Aquinas
DATE: May 17, 2015
djl
RINDGE, N.H. - - Down five runs after the first inning the Wilmington University baseball team stormed back and defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 11-9, to claim its first ever NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Championship on Sunday night, earning a trip to the NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals.
The Wildcats (37-13) defeated each of the past two East Regional Champs on Sunday to claim their first ever regional championship. The Regional Championship is also the first for any team in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for the sport of baseball, joining the 2010 Bloomfield College men's basketball team, the Concordia Clippers men's tennis team, and the Wilmington University golf team.
With the win, the Wildcats advance to the 2015 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals starting on Saturday, May 23 in Cary, N.C. The tournament will be played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in its entirety.
The Championship game didn't start off on the right foot for the Wildcats, as they spotted St. Thomas Aquinas (30-19-1) a five-run lead after the first inning. But the resilient Wildcats battled right back, scoring six runs in the top of the second to erase the deficit and take the lead.
Matt Lopes started the comeback with an RBI double to right center before Christian Adorno singled in Lopes two batters later. Now with the bases loaded, Frank Samluk singled through the left side to score two more runs, with the third coming home on a throwing error that reached the STAC dugout. Jon Castro finished off the six-run inning with a single through the right side, scoring Samluk from third.
The Spartans fought back with a run in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game, but the Wildcats bounced right back to retake the lead in the top of the third. It would be a lead they would never relinquish. Lopes started the inning with a doubled to left center before moving to third on a single from Sean Feeney. Lopes came home on an RBI fielder's choice by Adorno, giving the Wildcats the 7-6 lead.
The offense added on with two runs each in the top of the seventh and eighth innings with RBI's coming from Adorno and Kyle Fries in the seventh and Lopes in the eighth. Sam Goines also scored a run on a wild pitch in the eighth.
The ball once again found its way into the arm of closer Tyler Fries, as he came on in the seventh inning with one out and two runners on base. Fries wiggled out of the bases loaded jam with only one run in the seventh before setting the Spartans down in order in the eighth.
The ninth inning was hairier for Fries, as he gave up a walk and back-to-back doubles as the Spartans cut the deficit to 11-9. Fries then induced a foul out to the catcher for the second out of the inning before striking out the final batter.
Chaos ensued.
Zach Rumford earned the win in relief, pitching 2.1 inning while striking out a pair and only allowing three hits. He improved to 2-1 on the season, pitching the bottom of the second before the Wildcats took the lead for good in the top of the third. Fries earned his fourth save of the East Regional Tournament, picking up his 14th of the season.
For their efforts over the weekend, Josh Swirchak, Feeney, and Fries were named to the All-Tournament Team. Fries was named the Most Outstanding Player in securing all four victories.
The 2015 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals begin on Saturday, May 23 with the Wildcats squaring up against Catawba at 7 p.m. Catawba won the Southeast Regional Tournament Championship.

 

[dawrestling]

djl
CARY, N.C. - - The Wilmington University baseball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision to second ranked Catawba in its first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Baseball Finals on Saturday night at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
Despite only collected two hits in the contest, the Wildcats (37-14) had multiple chances to plate a few runs but left seven runners on base, including two in the third and seventh innings each.
Much like the start of the East Regional Tournament in which the Wildcats fell behind 2-0 after the first inning, Catawba (45-13) jumped out in front off starter Jamie Treml in the top of the first, scoring twice on a pair of doubles and a single in the inning.
After going down in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Wildcats were looking for their first ever hit of the NCAA Division II Baseball Finals and it came in a big way off the bat of senior Sam Goines to lead off the second.
Goines deposited a 2-0 pitch to the hill in left field, marking the first hit as a home run for the Wildcats. More importantly it cut the deficit in half early in the ballgame.
Treml settled into the ballgame after the top of the first, only allowing two hits the rest of his outing. The Indians added a run in the top of the fourth, as a leadoff walk came around to score on a sacrifice fly. The run would prove to a much-needed run for Catawba.
Sean Feeney walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth before being moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Hawthorne. Two batters later Frank Samluk collected an infield single to put runners on first and third with two outs, but the Indians starter Shaefer Shepard induced an inning ending ground ball off the bat of Jon Castro.
The Wildcats cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Josh Swirchak and Sam Goines started the inning with back-to-back walks. Matt Lopes moved the runners along with a two-strike sacrifice bunt and Christian Adorno brought in a run with an RBI groundout to short. But that would be all the Wildcats would get in the inning as the Catawba bullpen found a way out.
Tory Manfre and Frank Samluk each walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying run in scoring position, before Castro moved both runners into scoring position with another sacrifice bunt. But reliever Bryan Blanton was able to escape the jam again for the Indians, getting Swirchak to fly out to end the threat.
That would be the last base runner the Wildcats would have.
Reliever Craig Brooks came on in the bottom of the eighth for the six out save and picked up all six outs in succession to shut down the Wildcats.
Treml was saddled with the hard luck loss, striking out five while walking three and allowing five hits. It was his first loss since April 1, 2012 at Felician. HE is now 31-4 in his career as a Wildcat.
Rob Gore tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Wildcats, picking up a strikeout while allowing one hit before turning the ball over to Tyler Fries for a scoreless ninth.
The loss drops the Wildcats to the elimination portion of the bracket, as they face a win-or-go-home game on Monday afternoon against Angelo State. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at the USA Baseball National Training Center.

Wilmington University Mission

Wilmington University is committed to excellence in teaching, relevancy of the curriculum, and individual attention to students. As an institution with admissions policies that provide access for all, it offers opportunity for higher education to students of varying ages, interests, and aspirations.

The university provides a range of exemplary career-oriented undergraduate and graduate degree programs for a growing and diverse student population. It delivers these programs at locations and times convenient to students and at an affordable price. A highly qualified full-time faculty works closely with part-time faculty drawn from the workplace to ensure that the university’s programs prepare students to begin or continue their career, improve their competitiveness in the job market, and engage in lifelong learning.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Wilmington Baseball's Josh Swirchak Signs Free Agent Contract with the St. Louis Cardinals Organization
DATE: June 15, 2015
djl
NEWARK, Del. - - A Wilmington University baseball senior received the greatest phone call of his baseball career last week, as the St. Louis Cardinals called Josh Swirchak following the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft to sign a free agent contract.
Swirchak (Manassas, Va.) was a senior second baseball on the Wildcats (37-15) that was the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions, the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament Champions, and participants in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships.
The righty was second on the team with a .383 batting average in 2015, hitting 12 doubles with four triples, and two home runs. He scored the third most runs (53) on the team while also bringing in the third most runs (39) in 45 games this year. He finished the season with a .531 slugging percentage and got on base in 47.1 percent of his plate appearances.
Swirchak headed to Florida over the weekend to sign his contract and will head Tennessee to compete with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League at the Rookie level.
The Johnson City Cardinals play their home games at Howard Johnson Field in Johnson City, Tennessee, which is in the northeast corner of the state. The season starts at the Kingsport Mets on June 23.