CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.- The Wilson College baseball team played their first round of the Colonial States Athletic Conference playoffs in the semi-final game against the number three seed, Cairn University. The Phoenix (30-9, 10-2 CSAC) won both games over the Highlanders (25-16, 8-4 CSAC) with final scores of 5-1 and 10-4.
Game One: Both teams' defenses started off the day strong keeping the game scoreless throughout the first three innings. The Cairn defense broke first in the bottom of the third inning. Wilson's offense was the first to reach home with a single from freshman
Alex Seidleck (Crownsville, MD, Indian Creek HS) bringing home sophomore
Haden Hoff (Westminster, MD, Fairmont State Univ.). Shortly after, senior
Brandon Cook (Glen Burnie, MD., Shepherd University) hit a sacrifice fly to allow sophomore
Brady Andre (Brookeville, MD, Sherwood HS) to score and Seidleck to advance to third base. On the next play, Seidleck stole home on a wild pitch giving the Phoenix a 3-0 lead going into the top of the fourth inning. The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when senior
Michael Marrale (Sykesville, MD, Old Dominion Univ.) hit a home run to left field to add another run for the Phoenix. A few singles later, Wilson was able to bring home junior
Dean Mercer (Dunedin, FL., Clearwater Central Catholic) off a hit from Hoff. Cairn scored their only run of the game in the top of the eighth inning off a walk while the bases were loaded. Senior
Max Little (Crestview, FL., Spangdahlem) closed out the game on the mound for the Phoenix bringing the game to its final score of 5-1.
Inside the Box Score: Hoff lead the way for the Wilson offense with three hits, one run scored, and one RBI. Senior pitcher
Cam Nolet (Annapolis, MD., S.C. Aiken) earned his eighth victory of the season after striking out 11 batters. Wilson ended the first game with five runs, ten hits, and no errors while Cairn finished with one run, four hits, and no errors.
Game Two: Again, both defenses started the game strong this time keeping the game scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. With bases loaded, Mercer hits a single to right field bringing home Hoff. Cairn was quick to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, with a single to right field which allowed the runner on second to advance to home. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Wilson retook the lead with Hoff hitting a single to right field to bring home Seidleck, and then advancing around the field on wild pitches to give the Phoenix a 3-1 lead. In the top of the seventh inning, the Highlanders gained the lead after hitting a three-run home run to left field giving Cairn a one-run lead. The Phoenix responded in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring six runs to bring the score to 9-4. Cook tallied the final run of the game with a home run to left field to bring the game to its final score of 10-4.
Inside the Box Score: Hoff had another big game finishing with three runs, two hits, and two RBIs. Cook followed with two runs, three hits, and one RBI. Wilson finished game two with 10 runs, 11 hits, and no errors while Cairn ended with four runs, five hits, and two errors.
Up Next: Wilson advances to the CSAC Championships where they await the winner of the Keystone vs Saint Elizabeth.
