(HUNTINGDON, Pa.) – The bats were pounding for the Wilson baseball team as it swept Juniata in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Phoenix posted a combined 38 runs on 42 hits while pulling away from the Eagles in the opener before staving off a wild comeback attempt in Game 2.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 25, Juniata 11
Game 2 – Wilson 13, Juniata 11
Venue: Langdon-Goodale Field
Records: Wilson 9-3, Juniata 2-7
How It Happened (Game 1)
- The Phoenix didn't waste any time getting started as they scored nine runs in the first inning. Garrett Griebel (Fy., Kent Island, Md. / Kent Island) highlighted the inning with a three-run home run for his second round trip of the season. Gerald Buchanan (Gr., Olney, Md. / Montgomery CC) and Brady Andre (Jr., Brookeville, Md. / Sherwood) also had extra base hits that knocked in runs with a pair of doubles.
- It was apparent that the game would be a slugfest in the bottom of the first as Juniata answered with a grand slam. The Eagles went on to tie the game in with a bases-loaded walk and another grand slam in the second.
- After a rare scoreless inning in the third, the Wilson bats found their groove once again in the fourth. Jordan McKenzie (Jr., White Plains, Md. / Southern Maryland) belted one over the fence in center to put the visitors back up 12-9. After the Eagles cut the deficit back down to one in the bottom of the frame, Andre led off the fifth with a homer to right center. After consecutive base hits by Jordan Daphney (So., Countryside, Fla. / Brunswick) and Ryan Torres (So., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley), McKenzie added to the lead as he cleared the bases with a double to left.
- The Phoenix provided another inundation of offense with an eight-spot in the sixth. Jack Pachella (Fy., Wayne, Pa. / Radnor) got in on the action with a double through the right side to score Andrew and Alex Seidleck (So., Crownsville, Md. / Indian Creek). Torres hit him in on the next play with a single through the left side. McKenzie added to the fireworks with another launch to center field for his second homer of the game and fourth of the year. Buchanan and Doc Daniels (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield) added RBI base hits to put the score at 23-11. Peyton Taylor (Jr., Worton, Md. / Kent County / Cabrini) added to the lead with a sac fly in the seventh
Inside The Numbers (Game 1)
- Wilson hit an astronomical .621 (18-for-29) with runners on base. The Phoenix hit .611 (11-for-18) with runners in scoring position and equaled those numbers with two outs.
- Briar Castellow (Jr., Thurmont, Md. / Catoctin) received the win in his third appearance of the season. He was able to come in and settle down the Eagles' lineup and limit them to two runs on seven hits while striking out four in the process.
- The Phoenix belted out 11 extra base hits between seven doubles and four home runs.
- The four home runs are the third-most by the Phoenix in a single game. They hit five out at Clarks Summit on April 29, 2022, and at Pitt-Greensburg in the season 2021 season opener on March 9.
- McKenzie matched the program record with six RBI in a single game. He joins Michael McGee, Dean Mercer, Kevin Finn, and Joseph Cofer. McGee and Mercer both pulled off the feat last season. Finn did so in 2021 while Cofer did so in 2019.
- The 25 runs are the third-most in a single game by the Phoenix in program history. They scored 41 and 30 in consecutive games at Clark Summit a season ago.
- The 25 runs are tied for 11th nationally for the most in a single game this season.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- Wilson kept the bats warm for the start of Game 2. McKenzie got things started with a triple to right center and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Buchanan added to the lead with a double down the left field line to score Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) who reached on a walk. Buchanan later scored after an infield error by the Eagles.
- Seidleck scored the next run for the Phoenix after he led off the third with a single. Base hits by Andre and Vinny Hall (Fy., Fulton, Md. / St. Johns) moved him to third where he scored from there after a sac fly from Griebel.
- The Phoenix scored five more in the fourth. The first four came in grand fashion as Andre hit a grand slam for his second homer of the day. Four batters later McKenzie chalked up another RBI to bring in Griebel.
- Juniata threatened in the bottom half, but Chase Supensky (Fy., Baltimore, Md. / Towson) worked his way out of a bases loaded jam by getting a strike out after relieving Pachella who started the game. Pachella was nearly lights out in the 3.2 innings he worked as he allowed just two hits and struck out six of the 16 batters faced with four of them looking.
- Run production resumed in the fifth for Wilson as Marrale homered to center for his fourth of the year. Daniels, Hall and Griebel all added RBI base hits to make the score 13-0. They all proved to be needed as the Eagles didn't give up and put up a strong rally in the fifth. A wild pitch, an error, a couple of base hits, and four walks with the bases loaded all helped the hosts put up 11 runs.
- Emilio Rodriguez (Fy., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) was able to come in and strike out a pair of batters and prevent any further damage to record his first save of the season. The game was called because of darkness shortly afterwards. Pachella received the win for his first decision of the season.
Inside The Numbers (Game 2)
- Nine different Phoenix hit safely in the nightcap with Buchanan leading the way with a 4-for-4 performance. Overall, he was 7-for-9 on the day with four RBI, four runs, and three doubles.
- Five other Phoenix had multiple hit games. McKenzie was one of them as between both games he hit for the cycle. Overall, on the day he was 6-for-11 with seven RBI, five runs, a double, a triple and two home runs.
- Brady's grand slam gave him six RBI and four runs scored on a day where he went 4-for-8. He is now on a seven-game hit streak.
- Wilson has put up an average of 17.3 runs per game over its last three games. Overall on the season the Phoenix are averaging 10.83 runs per game.
Up Next
Another non-conference twin bill awaits the Phoenix on Monday as they head west to take on Waynesburg. First pitch with the Yellow Jackets is set for 1 p.m.
