BEL AIR, MD – A four-run eighth inning by Wilmington broke open what was a tie game, sending the Wildcats to an 8-4 victory in nine innings over the Bloomsburg University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon at Harford Community College.

The Wildcats (1-1) scored a run in the home half of the first on an RBI single by Mike Annone, but the Huskies answered in the second when Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland) led off with a single and scored two batters later on a double play ball.

Wilmington grabbed a 2-1 run lead in the third, but the Huskies seized the advantage in the fourth.

Muth and Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) were hit by pitches in back-to-back at-bats to start the fourth inning and a walk to Corey Baiada (Harleysville/LaSalle) loaded the bases. Preston Bare (Palmyra/Palmyra) then delivered, roping a double to score both Muth and Ravel for a 3-2 edge.

The lead would be short lived, however, as Wilmington went up 4-3 on back-to-back solo home runs from Frank Samluk and Matt Lopes.

The Huskies (3-3) tied the game again in the seventh on an RBI double off the bat of Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan).

The Wildcats went ahead for good in the eighth with a four-spot, breaking the tie on an RBI single from Tyler Hawthorne to score Samluk who had singled to lead off. Josh Swirchak and Sam Goines followed with RBI singles later in the inning.

Sean McCloskey (Warminster/Archbishop Wood) started and tossed three innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out two. Ryuta Amaike (Whitehall/Whitehall) followed with three innings as well, also allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Kyle Menchaca (1-0) picked up the win for Wilmington with an inning of scoreless work out of the bullpen.

Bloomsburg is scheduled to play next at home vs. Lock Haven, weather and field conditions permitting.