(DANVILLE, Ky.) – The Wilmington College baseball team finished up their first series of the season Sunday afternoon at Centre College in a doubleheader. They dropped game one 10-0 in eight innings before falling in the nightcap, 14-4 in seven innings. The Quakers had 15 total hits on the day, with three going for extra bases. They drop to 0-3 to begin the 2024 season and will be back on the field in Georgia for a neutral site game with Hanover College on Friday.
Game One – Centre defeats Wilmington, 10-0.
The Quakers struggled to get anything going offensively in game one. They had runners in scoring position in six of the eight innings but were unable to capitalize and bring anyone home.
Their best chance came in the top of the third, where Evan Kelsey began the inning with a single. He was then sacrificed to second and a groundout brought him to third with two outs. However, a strikeout ended the threat for the Quakers.
Game One Notables
- Evan Kelsey had three hits in the game to lead Wilmington, while Dylan Montgomery had two hits for the Quakers.
- Riley Sims worked a pair of walks.
- The Quakers struck out five Colonels, with Kaleb Stines leading the way with two strikeouts in his one inning of work.
Game Two – Centre defeats Wilmington, 14-4.
After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, Wilmington plated a pair of runs in the top of the second to take their first lead of the weekend. Max Gildea got the Quakers off to a great start in the inning, blasting the first homerun of his collegiate career over the left field fence to tie the game. Kyle Jennings followed this up with a double to center field to put Wilmington in great position for a big inning. The next two Quakers made outs, but Jennings advanced to third base on a groundout. Eli Hollingsworth followed with a big two out knock for his first collegiate hit and RBI to give Wilmington the lead.
The Colonels followed with 10 unanswered runs over the following five innings to take an 11-2 lead. The Quakers had a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth but couldn't bring him in and wouldn't do anymore damage until the seventh.
A Hollingsworth walk started the inning and was followed by a J.C. Calhoun single to put two on with no one out. Kelsey continued his solid day with a single up the middle for an RBI and an 11-3 score. Calhoun would then score on a wild pitch to cut it to 11-4. The Quakers wouldn't be able to bring in Kelsey in the inning as the game ended at 14-4.
Game Two Notables
- Max Gildea and Kyle Jennings both had a pair of hits in the game to lead Wilmington. Both Jennings hits were doubles.
- Evan Kelsey, Gildea, and Eli Hollingsworth all had one RBI.
- Freshman Drew Tower provided three quality innings of relief for Wilmington, striking out five Colonels.
What's Up Next
The Quakers head to Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia for a trio of games next weekend, with two neutral site games followed by a game with Piedmont. They begin against the Panthers of Hanover College on Friday afternoon at 12:00 P.M.
