RICHMOND, Indiana – The Wilmington College baseball team split a doubleheader with rival Earlham College on Saturday, winning game one 12-3 and falling in the nightcap 8-2. The split gives WC the series victory as the visitors won the series' first game 15-3 in seven innings on Friday evening.
In the victory, Wilmington was able to manufacture a run without tallying a hit in the first inning as Tyler Shaneyfelt drew a walk, stole a base, advanced to third on an error and scored via a fielder's choice. Starter Aaron Boster pitched around multiple baserunners in both the first and third innings, and his offense gave the junior a bit more cushion in the fourth. The visitors tacked on two runs off of four hits that included an RBI-double down the left field line from Kyle Jennings.
The visiting Quakers scored a run on a wild pitch in the fifth and a sacrifice fly from Carter Scheben in the sixth, but the host Quakers got those runs back with two-run, four-hit bottom of the sixth. Leading 5-2, consecutive RBI-hits from Dominic Depa and Jesse Reliford extended the advantage, and a four-run eight ensured Wilmington would win the series.
Boster improved to 2-2 on the season, striking out 10 in six innings while scattering eight hits and two earned runs. Luke Chappie pitched up a three-inning save, striking out two and allowing one hit over the final three innings. For Earlham, Dillon Fischer took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) with four walks in six innings.
Offensively, Lammert led the way with a 3-for-5 performance with the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Wilmington pounded out 14 hits with Evan Kelsey, Depa, Reliford and Eilerman also having multi-hit contests. Nathan Lancianese finished 3-for-4 for Earlham in defeat.
In the loss, the Quakers once again got the board first as Shaneyfelt reached on an error and eventually scored on an RBI-single from Lammert in the first. Wilmington starter Trent Mendenhall kept the Earlham offense at bay for two innings, but the hosts plated two in the third on an two-out double from Max Fries and took a 3-1 lead on a bunt single in the fourth. The WC starter did log a quality start, however, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Wilmington would cut the deficit in half on another Lammert RBI-single in the sixth. Depa executed a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position, but Jesse Reliford lined into a double play. Reliford would take the mound in the eighth, but for the first time this season, he wasn't effective. The hosts tagged him for five runs and put the game out of reach in the process.
Hayden Scalf struck out eight and allowed six hits in seven innings to pick up the win for Earlham while Mendenhall dipped to 1-1 on the season despite the quality start. Fries finished 4-for-5 for EC with two doubles and four RBIs while Ian Bullis tallied three hits. Lammert went 2-for-4 for WC and drove in both runs.
Wilmington (5-7) travels to Franklin on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
