Junior starter Billy Foster did everything you could ask from a starter, he gave them a chance to win.  

However, the bullpen struggled and allowed five runs in the eighth inning, and the Wilmington College baseball team fell to Thomas More Tuesday, 9-3, in non-conference action at Tewksbury-Delaney Field.

Foster (Xenia, OH/Xenia) went seven innings, the second-longest outing of his career, allowing four earned (two earned) on nine hits and a season-high six strikeouts. In his last two starts, Foster has an 3.08 ERA.

Wilmington took the lead in the second inning with a leadoff single by Max Ramsey (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) and a walk by Luke Matthews (Centerville, OH/Centerville). The pair moved up on a sacrifice bunt, and Ramsey scored on a groundout by Corey Walker (Hillsboro, OH/Hillsboro).

However, the lead didn't last long as Thomas More scored two runs in the top of the third. A fielding error in the seventh opened the door for the Saints to tack on two more runs.

The Fightin' Quakers got those runs back in the bottom half of the inning. Clay Cleaver (Pleasant Plain, OH/Little Miami) was issued a one-out walk, and moved to third on a Kyle Short (Trenton, OH/Edgewood) double. A wild pitch brought Cleaver home and a fielding error pulled WC to within a run.

The rally came to an end as Ramsey flew out and Tyler Schrock (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) was doubled off.

Short was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Wilmington (3-31 overall) travels to Chillicothe 4 p.m. Wednesday to play Ohio Christian in non-conference action.