CARY, N.C. - The visiting Wildcats from Johnson and Wales University brought another late season cold snap with them on their travels south from Providence, Rhode Island. The Pacers and Wildcats started their three game series Thursday night with a 7:00 first pitch thrown under the lights at 40 degrees.
Sophomore Ryan Manning toed the rubber as a starter for the second time this year, looking to turn in another quality start. The Wildcats were able to scratch an early run in the first after two Pacer errors and an RBI groundout.
Manning limited the initial damage and bounced back with a quick second. However, a leadoff Wildcat triple by Junior infielder Jack Obert spelled trouble once again for the Pacers in the third. The Wildcats quickly cashed in, and manufactured two more in the frame, building the lead to 3-0.
Manning shut the door on the Wildcats from there, not giving up another hit in the 4th and 5th. Meanwhile, the Pacer offense manufactured a run in the 4th as Nevin Norville shot a line drive into right center, scoring Gavin Turner who had led the inning off with a single.
After a dazzling two innings of bullpen work from Derrick Collins, the Wildcats settled back in, clipping the sophomore with a two RBI single in the top of the 8th, a heartbreaking moment that gave the opposing Wildcats much needed breathing room.
The Pacers were gifted a run in the bottom of the ninth, plating one on a throwing error and making the score 5-2. That score would go final two outs later and the Pacers would fall to 0-10 on the season. WPU finished up the series with a double header tomorrow, 3/7.
