(GREENSBORO, N.C.) – It was a successful opening day for the Wilson baseball team as it swept Guilford in a twin bill down in the Tar Heel State. The Phoenix exploded with a 10-run second inning in the opener and used excellent pitching to shut down the Quakers in the night cap.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 18, Guilford 10
Game 2 – Wilson 8, Guilford 1
Venue: McBane Field
Records: Wilson 2-0, Guilford 0-2
How It Happened (Game 1):
- It didn't take long for the Phoenix bats to heat up as they scored three runs in the first inning. Brandon Cook (Gr., Glen Burnie, Md. / Shepherd) got things going with a triple to right center and eventually scored on the next play as Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) reached on an error. Marrale later scored on a double by Dean Mercer (Sr., Dunedin, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic), who eventually scored on a single from Doc Daniels (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield).
- Wilson stayed on fire in the second inning as it put up a 10-spot. Marrale provided most of the fireworks as he homered to left center which also plated Cook and Haden Hoff (Jr., Westminster, Md. / Fairmont State) to make the score 7-0. Daniels, Alex Seidleck (So., Crownsville, Md. / Indian Creek), Brady Andre (Jr., Brookeville, Md. / Sherwood), Garrett Griebel (Fy., Kent Island, Md. / Kent Island), and Hoff all provided RBI singles while Cook added to the lead with a sac fly later in the frame.
- Guilford was able to get one back in the bottom of the second and added four in the fourth before Wilson extended its lead in the fifth. Daniels singled down the right field line to score Vinny Hall (Fy., Fulton, Md. / St. Johns) and later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 15-5. The Phoenix built upon that lead one inning later as Jordan McKenzie (Jr., White Plaines, Md. / Southern Maryland) hit an RBI double, Hall hit a sac fly, and Bryan DeCarlo (Jr., Gaithersburg, Md. / Hagerstown CC) hit an RBI single to center to make the score 18-5. The Quakers followed up with four in the sixth and one more in the seventh to set up the final score.
How It Happened (Game 2):
- Wilson once again lit up the scoreboard in the second inning. Griebel did the honors as he hit a grand slam to right field which scored Andre, Seidleck and Daniels. The Quakers were able to get one back in the bottom of the frame, but their bats remained quiet for the rest of the game.
- Marrale added to Wilson's lead in the fourth as he double to left center to score Hoff. He later came around to score on a right field single from Mercer.
- Andre capped the scoring as he went yard with a two-run shot that also scored Seidleck in the top of the seventh.
Inside The Numbers
- Ben Tunnell (Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla. / Lakewood) was the pitcher of record for Game 1. He came on in relief of Chris Baumann (So., Snow Hill, Md. / Snow Hill) and went struck out a pair in 2.1 innings of work.
- The Phoenix battery was excellent in Game 2 as it allowed one run on six hits and struck out 10 of the 32 batters faced. Adrian Lugo (So., San Juan, Puerto Rico / Manuel Cruz Maceira) provided half of the punch-outs as he recorded the win with 2.1 innings of relief work.
- The Phoenix pounded out their 18 runs of Game 1 on 22 hits with two Guilford errors. Thirteen different players recorded hits with Marrale, Daniels, and Andre having three-hit games. Hoff, Mercer, and Seidleck also had multiple-hit games.
- Hoff and Seidleck also had multiple-hit games in Game 2.
- Marrale and Andre recorded nine total bases each on the day. Hoff and Griebel had five each.
Up Next
The Phoenix will look to pull off the sweep of the Quakers as they square off again Sunday in a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
