(LANGHORNE, Pa.) – Wilson came from behind to defeat Cairn in what became a slugfest in the CSAC opener on Thursday afternoon. The Phoenix trailed by five heading to the sixth before exploding for 13 runs over the final five frames to take an extra innings win.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 17, Cairn 10 (10 innings)
Venue: Stillman Complex
Records: Wilson 11-4, 1-0 CSAC; Cairn 4-10, 0-1 CSAC
How It Happened
- The Highlanders set the tone of the game early with four runs in the bottom of the first. The first two came on a homer to left center. A double to right center made it 3-0 before a ground out brought the fourth run in.
- Wilson answered back in the second and cut Cairn's lead in half. Doc Danield (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield) plated the first run as his single to center allowed Gerald Buchanan (Gr., Olney, Md. / Montgomery CC) to score. A wild pitch followed that allowed Alex Seidleck (So., Crownsville, Md. / Indian Creek) to score from third. Wilson got within one during the next inning as Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) hit in Jordan McCkenzie (Jr., White Plains, Md. / Southern Maryland) on a fielder's choice.
- Cairn built its lead up to 6-3 with a pair in the bottom of the third before Wilson got within two once again as Garrett Griebel (Fy., Kent Island, Md. / Kent Island) singled through the left side to score Brady Andre (Jr., Brookeville, Md. / Sherwood). The Highlanders kept the pressure on in the time being as a bases loaded walk, a base hit, and a sac fly scored three runs on consecutive plays to take a 9-4 lead.
- Wilson eventually started chopping away at the host's lead in the top of the sixth win Griebel scored on a Dean Mercer (Sr., Dunedin, Fla. / Clearwater Central Catholic) ground out. Four more runs followed in the next frame as Jack Pachelle (Fy., Wayne, Pa. / Radnor) hit in Daniels and Andre with a base knock through the right side. McKenzie then tied it up with his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Cairn was able to go back up by one in the bottom half of the inning, but a Daniels triple circled around Seidleck to tie the game at 10 in the top of the eighth.
- After a scoreless ninth forced extra innings, the rains came. They didn't come in the literal sense, but rather the proverbial one as the Phoenix put up a seven-spot in the 10th. Mercer led off with a single to left before Marrale launched a pitch over the fence in left center for the first Phoenix lead all day. Daniels, Pachella, and McKenzie all followed with RBI base hits to make the score 17-10.
- After the first two Highlanders reached base to start the bottom of the 10th, Jacob Whittington (Gr., Salisbury, Md. / Univ. of the Sciences) worked his way out of the jam by getting the first out on strikes before a game-ending double play for his first decision of the year.
Inside The Numbers
- Pachella had easily the best game of his young collegiate career as he went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.
- Daniels was also phenomenal as he went 5-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored. McKenzie wasn't far behind as his three RBI and two runs were on a 3-for-6 day from the plate. Marrale also added three RBI and a run scored.
- Marrale's home run couldn't have come at a better time. Not only did he give the Phoenix the lead in extra innings, but he extended his hit streak to 11 games as well. He now has multiple RBI in his last three games.
- Wilson improves to 3-1 all-time in CSAC opening games.
- The nation's leading team in batting average improved upon it today as the Phoenix banged out 21 hits in 51 at-bats for an average of .412.
Up Next
These two teams will meet again on Sunday in Chambersburg. It will be a doubleheader with the first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for noon at Henninger Field.
