Donlan went 1-for-5 with four runs scored, a triple, 1 RBI, 3 walks
MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (February 21, 2020) – The Stonehill College baseball team split their season opening doubleheader with regionally-ranked Wilmington (Del.) University Friday night at the Polo Grounds of the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge. The Wildcats are ranked third in the latest NCBWA Division II East Regional Poll.
GAME ONE: Stonehill 4, Wilmington (Del.) 9
Wilmington's four pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts in their first game of the season, as the starter, Dan Hyatt recorded the win with seven strikeouts. Stonehill's three pitchers totaled seven strikeouts in the 8.0 innings totaled pitched. Four of the Wildcats' nine hits came from Nic Hertzfeld as he went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a sacrifice fly.
The Wildcats got out to an early 5-0 lead with five hits in three innings, including a sacrifice fly from Ryan and a two-out RBI double from Nowell. The Skyhawks' Aidan Wilde led off the top of the fourth, 5-1, with his first homerun of the season and fourth of his career as he led Stonehill at the plate swinging 1-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
After being retired in the bottom of the fourth, Hertzfeld drove in another run before getting thrown out at second to extend their lead back to five, 6-1. Stonehill cut the deficit to four, 6-2, as Wilde reached on a fielder's choice and PJ McDonald scored from third.
Stonehill's biggest inning game late in the game as McDonald reached on a fielder's choice, scoring two runs, 6-4, before Wilmington did not allow the Skyhawks to go out with the last word. The Wildcats scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth off of one hit and two left on base, 9-4.
GAME 2: Stonehill 5 – Wilmington 4 (8 innings)
Wilde launched his first homerun of the season in game one against Wilmington |
Both pitching staffs combined for 11 strikeouts in the eight-inning game. Stonehill got out on top with Rob Duarte's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning that scored the first run of the game, 1-0.
Wilmington scored one in the top of the second to tie the game, 1-1, and then rallied to put three on the board in the top of the fourth for a 4-1 advantage. The Skyhawks answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth from Matt Donlan's first triple of the season cutting the deficit to one, 4-3.
The Skyhawks tied the game for the second time off a wild pitch, 4-4, and as Stonehill went into extra innings, Donlan was able to cross home plate for the winning run off a wild pitch.
What's Next
Stonehill will take on Concordia (N.Y.) College (1-1) tomorrow, Saturday, February 22 with a first pitch at 11:00 a.m.
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