(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson wrapped up its non-conference portion of the schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Pitt-Bradford on a chilly Tuesday afternoon. The opener provided some dramatics and saw the Phoenix win in walk-off fashion while timely hitting and strong pitching by committee helped the Blue and White dominate the nightcap.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 8, Pitt-Bradford 7
Game 2 – Wilson 7, Pitt-Bradford 1
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 30-7, Pitt-Bradford 7-26
How It Happened (Game1)
- The Panthers initially got on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the first inning. It was the only blemish for starter Chase Supensky (Fy., Baltimore, Md. / Towson) who had an incredible outing as he struck out eight batters in his 4.0 innings of work.
- Wilson was able to tie the game in the bottom of the second. Alex Seidleck (So., Crownsville, Md. / Indian Creek) and Doc Daniels (So., Deal Island, Md. / Crisfield) led off the frame with a pair of base hits to center field. A fielder's choice moved them over before Kade Linton (Fy., Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Seidleck.
- Michael Marrale (5th, Sykesville, Md. / Old Dominion) put the Phoenix ahead in the next inning as he homered to left field. That made the score 3-1 as Jordan McKenzie (Jr., White Plains, Md. / Southern Maryland), who reached on a single to center, also scored on the play.
- After a scoreless fourth, Wilson appeared to have everything going its way in the fifth. Jordan Daphney (So., Countryside, Fla. / Brunswick) reached on an infield error and was pinch ran for by Bryan DeCarlo (Jr., Gaithersburg, Md. / Hagerstown CC). Garrett Griebel (Fy., Kent Island, Md. / Kent Island) moved him along on a base hit to right and DeCarlo scored on batter later as McKenzie hit a sac fly to center. Three batters later a bases loaded walk to Seidleck scored Griebel. A balk allowed Marrale to score before Daniels hit a single to left to score Gerald Buchanan (Gr., Olney, Md. / Montgomery CC) to make it 7-1.
- Pitt-Bradford didn't go away quietly and crawled within one with a five-spot in the sixth. Down to their last out, the Panthers tied the game on an RBI base hit through the left side.
- Wilson was also down to its last out in the seventh, but Seidleck gave the Phoenix some home as he reached second after an infield error. Daniels was able to bring him in promptly with a base hit through the left side.
- The win gave relief pitcher Emilio Rodriguez (Fy., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) his second decision of the season as he improved to 2-0. He allowed two runs, one earned on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The Panthers again started the scoring with a solo run in the first inning, but that ended up being all the offense they could muster as the Phoenix were able to work out of a bases loaded jam. Again the lead didn't last long as the Phoenix answered with three in the second. Seidleck and Daniels reached on a base hit and a walk, respectively, before Brady Andre (Jr., Brooksville, Md. / Sherwood) doubled them in on a base hit to right center. After a wild pitch, Andre was able to score on a ground out by Griebel that made it 3-1.
- Another run followed in the fourth as Daniels opened the inning with a base hit to right. He proceeded to steal second, moved to third after the throw to second was long, and scored on a sac fly by Andre.
- The Phoenix capped the scoring in the sixth. Andre and Jack Pachella (Fy., Wayne, Pa. / Radnor) reached on base hits to right and right center before McKenzie brought them both in on a single to left. During the next batter, Griebel stole third and scored after another error on the catcher in an attempt to get McKenzie advancing to second.
- Wilson's battery got stronger as the game went on with multiple starters getting short work. Overall the group struck out 11 Panthers and allowed just two hits. Chris Baumann (So., Snow Hill, Md. / Snow Hill) was tabbed for the win after he struck out four of the seven batters he faced in 2.0 innings of work. Brayden Stutzman (Fy., Mt. Airy, Md. / South Carroll) came in to pitch the sixth and fanned all three batters faced. Starter Jacob Whittington (Gr., Salisbury, Md. / Univ. of the Sciences) struck out three in two frames.
Inside The Numbers
- With the win, the Phoenix have now posted back-to-back 30 win seasons. In the program's short five year history, Wilson is 110-40 all-time.
- Daniels had a big day overall as he was a combined 4-for-6. He hit in two runs in the opener, including the game winner, while scoring a pair himself in the second.
- The CSAC Player of the Week Jordan McKenzie was a combined 3-for-7 with three RBI and a run scored.
- Marrale's home run was his ninth of the season putting him a tie with McKenzie for the most in the CSAC. As a team the Phoenix are 22nd nationally with 41 dingers on the year.
Up Next
Wilson will host St. Elizabeth for a single game on Friday before heading to the Garden State to complete the three-game series with a twin bill on Saturday.
