Wilson Picks up First Win in Program History
Wilson College’s Baseball Team stepped onto the field for the first time in its program history on March 10, 2019 in Washington D.C. to play Gallaudet University coming in with an overall record of (4-6). Wilson was going in to play a non-conference double header with the first game at 12:00 and another one right after at 3:00 p.m.
In game one, it started with a scoreless first inning, then Gallaudet scored the first run of the game, a balk by Phoenix’s pitcher, Hunter Cheek ‘22. After that, Cheek settled in to throw three consecutive scoreless innings. When Cheek stepped out to pitch in the fifth inning, Gallaudet went on to score five runs to take a lead of 6-0, and they carried that lead into the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, the last inning of the game, Phoenix came up to hit and began to battle. It started with a leadoff single from Grant Astle ‘22, and then, a couple batters later, Kevin Finn ‘22, came up to the plate and got a single to put a runner in scoring position. Following that, there was a walk to load the bases for the Phoenix. Gallaudet then settled down to record two consecutive outs. Down to the final out, one of Phoenix’s captains stepped up to the plate, Dylan Procopio ‘21, hit a shot to the warning track in left center for a bases clearing double. That brought Phoenix within three with a (6-3) ball game. Gallaudet then went on to strikeout the following batter, giving them the victory (6-3).
In game two of the double header, Wilson carried the momentum from the last inning in the previous game. They came out the gates strong and swinging first. The first inning started with the Phoenix scoring first on a wild pitch that was followed by a sacrifice fly from Cole Rinehart ‘22, that brought in Astle from third. Wilson went on to finish the big inning with a double from Nick Quinn ‘22, that brought in Finn to score. Wilson finished the top of the first with a (3-0) lead. Gallaudet quickly responded in the bottom of the inning to score one run, but left three runners stranded on base. Wilson came up to hit in the top of the second with Joseph Cofer ‘22, stepping up to the plate with an immediate response. Cofer hit the first home run in the program’s history over the left center wall for a solo shot giving the Phoenix a (4-1) lead. Kevin Ehrman ‘22 then went on to throw three scoreless innings for the Phoenix. Going into the sixth inning, Phoenix added another run on a Gallaudet balk, giving them a (5-1) lead. Cheek came up and hit a two run moonshot home run to left field giving them a (7-1) lead. After that, Astle added some more cushion to the Phoenix with a two run single to left, putting the lead to (9-1) for the Phoenix. Wilson ended up giving up one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but were able to close out the game with a score of (9-2). Wilson captured its first win in program history behind Ehrman throwing a little over three innings of scoreless ball, only giving up one hit, and adding four strikeouts to be named the winning pitcher and securing the program’s first win.