May 17, 2009

Box Score

Rindge, NH - Third-seeded Adelphi scored five times in the top of the eighth inning and picked up four more runs in the top of the ninth inning on Saturday night to defeat sixth-seeded Wilmington in the final game of the third day of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University, at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. The eighth-inning rally was keyed by a grand slam by junior right fielder Justin Ciamillo.

With the win, Adelphi (34-14) advances to play fourth-seeded Dowling in the championship round of the East Regional, beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Dowling will have to defeat Adelphi twice to win the championship. The second game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., if necessary. With the loss, Wilmington concludes its season at 29-29.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Adelphi loaded the bases and got on the board when junior third baseman Chris Weidlein hit a ground ball that was mishandled by the Wilmington third baseman. This left the bases loaded for Ciamillo, who deposited a pitch over the 365-foot sign in the left-center field power alley for his first home run of the season, a grand slam to give Adelphi a 5-2 lead.

However, Wilmington would rally back with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the eighth. After the bases were loaded with a single, a hit batsman and a walk, sophomore pitcher Drew Anusky clubbed a ball that clanged off the fence in left-center field, narrowly missing a grand slam of his own. Instead, the shot was a three-run, bases-clearing double to tie the game at 5-5.

Adelphi took a 9-5 lead it would not relinquish in the top of the ninth inning. Senior center fielder Robert Paccione scored from third with the go-ahead run on a double-play ball. Also in the inning, Weidlein drove in a run with a single to center field and the Panthers scored two runs as a result of a throwing error by the Wilmington pitcher.

Wilmington picked up a run on a double to right-center by junior shortstop JT Gregory in the bottom of the ninth to create the 9-6 final.

Junior right-hander Mike Bartlett started on the mound, tossed 6.2 innings and did not factor in the decision for Adelphi. He allowed two runs on seven hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch and struck out five. Senior right-hander Jake Potters picked up the win (2-0) in relief after throwing the final 1.2 innings. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, walked one batter and hit another.

Sophomore right-hander Anthony Cimabue started on the hill and did not factor in the decision for Wilmington. Over 7.1 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits, walked two, threw a wild pitch and struck out two. Anusky took the loss (0-2), as he threw two-thirds of an inning in relief, gave up one run on one hit and walked one.

Adelphi will be looking to secure the program's first trip to the College World Series since 1999 when they take on Dowling College at 2pm in the East Regional Title game.