GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Rocco Wilcox tallied two RBI, including the final insurance run of the contest, as the Quakers held off a Muhlenberg College rally to claim a Friday afternoon victory over the Mules, 8-7.
The Quakers (11-6) scored at least one run in every inning but the second and third frames as Josh Shepherd led off the game with a triple and Wilcox drove him home off a sacrifice fly. Muhlenberg (4-5) responded with a three-run rally over the next two innings, including a two-run third inning where Robbie Hopes’ RBI-double with one out sparked the third-inning rally.
Mitchell Stumpo responded in the bottom of the fourth frame after an Andrew Brann two-out double with a single to right field. Trevor Denton collected another two-out RBI one inning later with a single up the middle for the Quakers’ only hit of the inning after back-to-back batters were hit by a pitch. After a Mules run in the top of the sixth inning, a two-out error at shortstop posted a run for the Quakers in the bottom half of the inning as Dylan Tuttle (Stoneville, N.C./McMichael) reached base and Stumpo crossed home plate.
The Quakers began to distance themselves from the Mules in the bottom of the seventh stanza after Shepherd took his second-straight hit-by-pitch and Wilcox walked. Joe Metts started the rally with a one-out single to right field to put runners at the corners. Austin Wilson (Lewisville, N.C./Reagan) brought home the inning’s second run with a two-out triple after coming into the game to replace Stumpo in left field as Stumpo went to pitch. Shepherd and Wilcox each tallied RBI-singles with one out one inning later to provide insurance for the Quakers heading into the ninth.
Pinch hitter Billy Brittingham lifted the Mules with one out in the top of the ninth with a double to center field while Stephen Koester drove pinch runner Bobby Merle home to pull Muhlenberg within one. Denton came in to pitch with two outs on the board and struck out Taylor Vazquez, the only batter he faced, to secure the win.
Wilcox finished one-for-three, reaching base three times in the contests to compliment his two RBI. Shepherd finished two-for-three with one RBI while Stumpo finished two-for-four with one RBI.
Hopes led the Mules, batting three-for-five with one RBI.
Stumpo (1-0) also claimed the win for the Quakers in two and two-third innings of relief, fanning two and walking one. Logan Jones struck out three and walked two in three and two-third innings of middle relief, giving up just one run on four hits. Denton collected his third save of the season.
R.J. Hennessey took a no-decision effort in a start for Muhlenberg after four and two-third innings where fanned five. Ryan Kaverick (1-1) took the loss for the Mules, walking one while giving up three runs on three hits.
The Quakers and Mules return to McBane Field tomorrow for two seven-inning games beginning a 1 p.m.