WILSON, NC – The Bloomsburg University baseball team fell to Wilmington University (Del.) by a final score of 2-1 in its first game of the Wilson Tobs Tournament on Friday afternoon.
A pitchers' duel throughout, the Wildcats were able to break a 1-1 deadlock in the top of the ninth inning on a Quintin Ivy solo home run over the left-field fence. The Huskies did get the game-tying run in scoring position in the bottom-half of the inning following a one-out double by
Jared Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), but Wilmington's AJ Stento worked out of the jam by striking out two consecutive hitters to pick up the win.
Burcin went 2-4 on the day while
Carter Chasanov (Magnolia, Del./Polytech) also had two hits, going 2-3 and reaching base after being hit by a pitch.
Anthony Viggiano (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) had the team's fifth hit of the contest as a solid performance by Wilmington's pitching staff limited the Huskies' offense.
Chasanov scored the only run for Bloomsburg in the bottom sixth inning, which tied the game at 1-1. The centerfielder reached third base after stealing second and advancing to third on a wild throw, then he scored on a sacrifice fly by
Kyle OFier (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area).
Wilmington took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a fielder's choice. Ivy, who hit the go-ahead homer in the final inning, scored the run after reaching third on a one-out triple to right field. John Mead recorded the RBI on a ground ball to second.
Runs were at a premium as both starting pitchers had tremendous efforts on the mound. Bloomsburg's
Jared Marshman (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) surrendered just two earned runs as he tossed eight strong innings before being pulled after the ninth-inning home run. Marshman had four strikeouts and allowed just seven hits.
Mason Keene (Bear, Del./Appoquinimink) finished off the ninth inning for the Huskies.
Wilmington starting pitcher Rich Albrecht had his stuff on the mound working as he recorded nine strikeouts in six innings while allowing just three hits. Alex Krick and Dom Grady combined to throw two scoreless innings in relief while Stento entered the game in the final inning and left a runner stranded in scoring position to pick up the win.
The Huskies (5-3, 0-0 PSAC) will return to Fleming Stadium on Saturday for two separate games as part of the Wilson Tobs Tournament. Bloomsburg will play Fairmont state in the first game at 12:00 PM. Then, the team will take on Wilmington University (Del.) at 4:00 PM.
