(READING, Pa.) – The nation's top hitting team put up the runs in bunches once again as Wilson defeated future conference foe Penn State-Berks on Thursday afternoon. As a result the Phoenix extended their win streak to 11 games.
The Phoenix blew the game open in the fourth inning where they hit two home runs, pounded out 11 hits, and scored 12 runs to set a new program record for most runs in a single inning. The Nittany Lions made an impressive comeback attempt, but the large deficit was too much to overcome.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 19, Penn State-Berks 14
Venue: Penn State-Berks Baseball Field
Records: Wilson 22-5, Penn State-Berks 8-14
How It Happened
- The Phoenix had no trouble getting on the scoreboard as they scored in each of the first five innings. Doc Daniels (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield) provided some early fireworks as he rocketed a pitch over the wall in right center for his second home run of the season to lead off the second inning and make the score 2-0. Daniels added another pair of runs one inning later as he doubled to center to score Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) and Gerald Buchanan (Gr., Olney, Md. / Montgomery) to make the score 4-1.
- Speaking of Marrale and Buchanan, they added some fireworks of their own in the fourth inning barrage. Marrale launched a ball over the center field fence for a three-run home run, his sixth round trip of the season, to make the score 9-1. After the Phoenix batted around the order, Buchanan got his second hit of the frame with a three-run blast of his own to center for his fourth homer of the year and a 17-1 lead.
- From there the Nittany Lions started to chip away at the Phoenix lead. They answered Wilson's record-breaking inning with two runs, added another in the fifth, and three more in the sixth.
- After a scoreless seventh, both teams added runs in the eight. For the Phoenix, Gage Goss (Fy., Holiday, Fla. / Anclote) hit in Garrett Griebel (Fy., Kent Island, Md. / Kent Island) on a bases-loaded ground out before Bryan DeCarlo (Jr., Gaithersburg, Md. / Hagerstown) hit sac fly to bring in Jacob Whittington (Gr., Salisbury, Md. / Univ. of the Sciences) to make the score 19-7. The Phoenix wasn't out of the woods yet though as the Lions put up seven in the bottom of the frame. Berks threatened again in the ninth, but Whittington was able to take the hill and strike out three to leave the bases loaded and end the game.
Inside The Numbers
- Wilson pounded out 22 total hits on the day, marking the sixth time this season the Phoenix have tallied at least 20 hits in a game.
- Nine players recorded hits, six players had multiple hit games, and 10 players scored for the Blue and White. Griebel and Mercer led the way as they went 4-for-6 and 4-for-5, respectively, with two RBI and three runs scored. Griebel also increased his on-base percentage with a walk.
- Marrale and Buchanan both were a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Buchanan had another RBI in addition to his home run to give him four.
- Daniels finished the day 3-for-6 with three RBI.
- The Phoenix battery matched a season high with 16 strikeouts on the day. Wilson also punched out 16 in wins against St. Mary's and at Rosemont.
- Chris Baumann (So., Snow Hill, Md. / Snow Hill) got the start for the Phoenix and struck out six while allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and one hit batter in 4.0 innings of work.
Up Next
In a rescheduled contest, the Phoenix will head to Cresson to take on Mount Aloysius for a single game on Sunday. First pitch with the Mounties is set for 2 p.m.
