RICHMOND, Indiana - The Wilmington College baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit to get the tying run 90 feet away in the ninth, but Earlham College come out on top 12-11 in an offensive Quaker Bowl Rivalry series finale from Randal R. Sadler Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Earlham got things started in the bottom of the second by being patient. David Ernst, Wilmington's starter, walked two batters and hit two more, and after Kaleb Stines entered the game in relief, another walk was followed by a two-RBI double to center field. In total, the hosts plated five runs to lead 5-0 after two complete.
Wilmington answered with a two-out rally in the third, however, as Aaron Burns drew a bases loaded walk that was followed by a two-RBI single to center field from Moses Garza. A pop out prevented further damage in the inning for the hosts, who got one run back in the bottom half to take a 6-3 advantage after three complete.
The visiting Quakers loaded the bases in the fourth, and once against with two outs, they delivered as Dominic Depa plated two runs with a single to right field. Both teams plated a run in the fifth, but the host Quakers took an 8-6 lead after six complete with a run in the sixth.
An attempted steal of second allowed Tyler Shaneyfelt to score from third in the top of the seventh, but two runs from Earlham put the hosts up 10-7 after seven complete. In the eighth, Wilmington got back within a run again as a bases loaded walk followed by a sacrifice fly made the score 10-9, but Tyler Shaneyfelt flew out to center field to end the threat. A two-run home run from Earlham in the bottom of the eighth made the deficit three runs once again.
Wilmington found itself in a similar situation to game one in the series, down three runs in the top of the ninth. The visiting Quakers rallied once again as three consecutive singles capped by a Caleb Scott single up the middle scored a run. A single from Jared Lammert followed to load the bases from Dominic Depa, who took a healthy cut at the first pitch, but just missed it and popped up. Corbin Craft kept the rally going with an RBI-single to right field that scored a run, but Jake Kinkead, who entered as a pinch runner and represented the game-tying run, was gunned down at home. Brandon Smith struckout looking to end the game.
Stines took the loss allowing four earned runs on eight hits while Ethan Khandaker earned the run for Earlham despite walking four batters in two innings. In total between the two teams, there were 14 walks and seven hit batters.
Jesse Reliford finished 4-for-6 with three runs scored while Evan Kelsey also had a three-hit contest. Lammert and Depa also had multi-hit games for Wilmington. Nathan Lancianse went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run and four runs scored to lead Earlham.
Wilmington (6-4) will host Franklin College for a single game on Tuesday. First pitch from Tewksbury-Delaney Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.
