(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Despite dropping both ends of Saturday's home doubleheader to Penn, Wilson showed resilience late and nearly erased a deficit in Game 2 before falling in a hard-fought ninth inning. The Phoenix scored a pair in the eighth to tie the game only to see the Wildcats answer with a pair in the top of the ninth. Wilson's response saw it score one before the visitors closed out the sweep.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 1, Penn 8
Game 2 – Wilson 5, Penn 6
Venue: Henninger Field
Records: Wilson 5-17, 3-4 UE; Penn 13-10, 7-1 UE
How It Happened (Game 1)
- Penn took an early 3-0 lead after three innings of play, but Wilson did well to limit the Wildcats by ending the top halves of the first two innings with strike-them-out throw-them-out double plays. After Dallas Gilbert (Jr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg / Penn State Harrisburg) fanned the batter, Tyler O'Brien (FY, Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) was able to connect with Ryan Torres (Sr., Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) to catch a runner trying to steal third in the first while a give-and-go connection with Seth Bivens (Jr., Hancock, Md. / Hancock / Hagerstown C.C.) prevented a run in the second.
- After Penn added two more in the sixth, the Phoenix were able to generate some offense in the bottom half. O'Brien led off with a double to right and was able to score after Samuel Martin (So., Maugansville, Md. / North Hagerstown / Hagerstown C.C.) followed with a single to right as well. Unfortunately, that was all the offense could generate the rest of the way.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The Phoenix had more success at the plate in the nightcap with seven different players recording hits. Wilson was also able to take an early lead with a pair of runs in the third as Tony Scott (FY, Baltimore, Md. / Archbishop Curley) hit in O'Brien on a base hit to center and Tyler Smith (So., Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) hit a sacrifice to center to score Martin.
- Penn rallied for a four-spot in the fifth to take the lead. Half of the Wildcats hits in the game came during the inning.
- Action picked up in the final two innings. It started with the Phoenix tying the game in the eighth in a rally sparked by Scott's single up the middle. Payton Bennett (So., Buckhannon, W.Va. / Buckhannon-Upshur / Davis & Elkins) came in as a pinch runner and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Jordan Daphney (Sr., Countryside, Fla. / Countryside), who moved Bennett over on a base hit through the left side, then tied the game on a base hit by Torres to the same location.
- Penn went back ahead in the top of the ninth with a two-out, two-RBI base hit to left center. Brady Bakner (5th, Waynesboro, Pa. / Scotland Campus) led off the bottom half with a dribbler down the third base line and was able to advance on an errant throw. He was able to move to third and then score on a pair of ground outs, but that was all the Phoenix could get in the ninth.
Inside The Numbers
- Martin, Harry Middlebrooks (So., Bel Air, Md. / Archbishop Curley), and Scott all recorded two hits on the day.
- Adrian Lugo (Sr., San Juan, Puerto Rico / Manuel Cruz Maceira) was solid in Game 2 as he struck out five in 7.0 innings of work.
Up Next
The Phoenix will be back at Henninger Field for a single game against Penn State Berks on Tuesday. First pitch with the Nittany Lions is set for 3 p.m.
