(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Jordan McKenzie (Jr., White Plains, Md. / Southern Maryland) homered twice to help lead Wilson to a 13-6 victory over Albright on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. The Phoenix pounded out 18 hits against the Lions, the fifth time in six games they have reached double figures in hits.
The game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, but pending weather moved the game up a couple days.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 13, Albright 6
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 4-2, Albright 0-3
How It Happened
- Despite the score, it was the Lions who had the early momentum as they put a four-spot in their first at bat. After a pitching change, Seth Smart (Fy., Seaford, Del. / Woodbridge) was able to come in and quiet the Albright bats by getting the Lions to ground into a double play and strike out three in 2.2 innings of work.
- McKenzie eventually put the Phoenix on the scoreboard with his first home run in the bottom of the second to cut the Lions' lead in half. Wilson eventually took the lead with a six-run third inning. Gerald Buchanan (Gr., Olney, Md. / Montgomery CC) resumed the scoring with a double to left to bring in Dean Mercer (Sr., Dunedin, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic). Brady Andre (Jr., Brookeville, Md. / Sherwood) then put Wilson in front as he followed with a single to center to score Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) and Buchanan which resulted in the Albright pitcher being chased.
- After the pitching change and a walk to Doc Daniels (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield), Alex Seidleck (So., Crownsville, Md. / Indian Creek) cleared the bases with a triple to dead center to make the score 7-4. He later scored on a McKenzie sac fly to end the scoring in the frame.
- Albright plated one run in the fifth, but Wilson came right back and put up a four-spot of its own in the bottom of the frame. McKenzie started the scoring once again with his second round trip of the day while Buchanan made the score 12-5 with a two-out, two RBI single through the left side to score Mercer and Peyton Taylor (Jr., Worton, Md. / Kent County / Cabrini). Buchanan capped the Phoenix scoring with a base hit to center to score Taylor again in the seventh.
Inside The Numbers
- Smart recorded the win for his first decision of the season. Briar Castellow (Jr., Thurmont, Md. / Catoctin) also came in and pitched two effective innings with four strikeouts.
- Emilio Rodriguez (Fy., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) pulled off one of the rarest feats in baseball in the sixth inning by striking out four batters. After punching out Jack Gilmer, he also was able to get Ethan Karel out swinging as well, but a dropped third strike allowed Karel to reach first safely. It was no bother for Rodriguez as he followed up by getting Eddie Meredith swinging before Patrick Healy was caught looking.
- McKenzie finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBI's and two runs scored. Buchanan also had a monster day as he went 4-for-5 with four RBI's and a run scored.
- Seidleck and Marrale also had multiple hit games for the Phoenix. Seidleck went 3-for-4 with two RBI's and three runs scored, while Marrale was 2-for-4 while scoring a run.
- Ten different Phoenix recorded a hit on the afternoon. Only the season opener at Guilford had more as 13 different players recorded hits.
- Wilson remains undefeated in home openers, improving to 5-0 after today.
Up Next
Wilson will continue its five-game home stand with Hood on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
