Baseball rallies in sixth, secures sweep
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Wiley College baseball team used the long ball to overcame an early deficit in a 14-9 victory over Philander Smith College Saturday at Lamar Porter Field.
The Wildcats (16-15, 8-4 GCAC) move into a tie for second with Dillard University and trail Rust College by a game for first. The Panthers extend their losing streak to five games and fall to fifth in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
Wiley College trailed 6-3 after the third inning. Devin Molina led off the fourth with an infield single. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and fielding error. Allan Mendoza followed with an infield single. A passed ball brought home Molina. Kai Woodard tied the game with his fourth home run of the season. With two outs, Ivan Del Villar gave the lead back to the Wildcats with a home run to left for his third of the season.
The lead was short lived. Two walks and a balk help set up a double steal by Philander Smith, which tied the game at seven. It retook the lead in the fifth with a solo home run by first baseman Blake Wambold.
Mendoza led off the sixth with a walk and Woodard followed with a single. Jhan Carlos Javier grounded into a fielder's choice with Mendoza advancing to third and Woodard thrown out at second. Del Villar recorded his second multi-home run game with a three-run blast to left – giving the Wildcats the lead for good at 10-8.
In the eighth inning, Wiley College added insurance runs. Del Villar led off with his second double of the game, and sixth in the series. Alexander San Miguel brought him home with a double left. Julian Rosales, who came in as a defensive replacement walked to load the bases. Darion Wallace brought home Luis Mares and Derwin Cooks, who courtesy ran for San Miguel with a single. Mendoza drove in Rosales with a sacrifice fly.
Del Villar went 5-for-6, with four runs and five RBIs. He is the first Wildcat to record five or more hits in a game since 2018. He finished the series with eight extra base hits. Mares went 4-for-5 and scored two runs. Woodard went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. Devin Molina went 2-for-3 with two runs. He hit his second home run of the season in the second inning.
Jerrius Vickers made his first career start on the mound and went two innings. He allowed three runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one. Chance Guidry pitched to five batters in the third, recording one out. A.J. Garcia threw 1 1/3 innings. Jalen Porter pitched the last 5 1/3 innings to earn his third win of the season. He only gave up two runs on six hits and struck out four.
The Wildcats will return home and play Southwestern Assemblies of God University, which is ranked No. 24 in the NAIA, at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/bsb/index
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