(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson baseball team's long-awaited return to Henninger Field was a good one as it swept Penn State Brandywine in a twin bill to start United East competition. The Phoenix brought out the bats early in Game 1 and kept them hot for Game 2 while receiving strong pitching in both contests.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 14, Penn State Brandywine 4 (7 innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 9, Penn State Brandywine 2
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 2-11, 2-0 UE; Penn State Brandywine 2-13, 0-2 UE;
How It Happened (Game1)
- The Phoenix scored early and often as they batted around the order in the opening inning. After a pair of walks to the first two batters, Tyler Smith (So., Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) brought in Ryan Torres (Sr., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) and Seth Bivens (Jr., Hancock, Md. / Hancock / Hagerstown) on a double. Smith scored in the next at-bat as Jordan Daphney (Sr., Countryside, Fla. / Countryside) reached on a base hit. Harry Middlebrooks (So., Bel Air, Md. / Archbishop Curley) hit a two-bagger to bring him to third. Daphney then scored on a sacrifice fly by Samuel Martin (So., Maugansville, Md. / North Hagerstown / Hagerstown C.C.). Later in the inning Ryan Turner (Jr., Brick, N.J. / Brick Memorial / Penn State Harrisburg) helped make it 5-0 on a squeeze play with a sacrifice bunt that allowed Middlebrooks to score. Tony Scott (FY, Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) capped the scoring after he crossed home on a double steal with Tyler O'Brien (FY, Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) swiping second.
- Scoring was dormant until the fifth inning when the Nittany Lions scored a pair on four hits, but the Phoenix were able to get them back plus one on the bottom end. Scott brought in the first two as his single through the right side brought in Daphney and Middlebrooks. Martin later scored on a base hit by Turner.
- Both teams scored once again in the sixth. Brandywine added one in the top, but once again the Phoenix answered in a big way. After three consecutive base hits to load the bases to start the inning, Middlebrooks cleared them with a double to right. Turner later brought him in with another base hit to make it 13-3. Brandywine added another run in the seventh before Daphney ended the game in walk-off fashion via mercy rule on a sacrifice fly that scored Bivens in the bottom of the seventh.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- Starter Adrian Lugo (Sr., San Juan, Puerto Rico / Manuel Cruz Maceira) gave up two runs on three hits in the first, but was masterful from there on out with a career-high nine strikeouts. He allowed just one hit the rest of the way as he recorded his first win of the season.
- It didn't take Lugo long to see his offense gain the lead. Middlebrooks was a main reason for that as he factored into the first four runs and six of the overall nine for Wilson. In the first he tied the game with a base hit to bring in Smith and Gibbons, and later scored on a double steal that saw Martin take second. Three innings later Middlebrooks scored on a sacrifice fly by Scott.
- Torres scored on a Smith single in the fifth while a wild pitch allowed Middlebrooks to make it 6-2 in the sixth. The final three runs came in the seventh with Smith tripling in Gibbons, Middlebrooks hitting a sacrifice fly to score Smith, and Martin scoring O'Brien on a base hit.
Inside The Numbers
- Dallas Gilbert (Jr., Shippesnburg, Pa. / Shippensburg / Penn State Harrisburg) improved to 2-2 as he recorded the complete game in the opener. He allowed the four runs on seven hits and struck out five in the process.
- Smith was on fire with six hits on the day. He went 3-for-5 in the opener before going 3-for-4 in the nightcap. It resulted in four runs scored and three RBIs.
- Middlebrooks was also en fuego with a 5-for-7 day with six runs and six RBIs. He joined Smith and Daphney with a three-hit game in the opener.
Up Next
The Phoenix will be back in action Tuesday with a non-conference clash at McDaniel. First pitch with the Green Terror is set for 3 p.m.
