Felician Athletics - 3/31/07 BASEBALL - Golden Falcons Hang On For Split At Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Freshman Richard Melendez (Miami, FL) and sophomore Jordan Noval (Manalapan, NJ) had four hits apiece, leading Felician College to a 12-11 Game 2 victory and a split of its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference baseball doubleheader with host Wilmington (Del.) College on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field. Wilmington had taken the opener, 10-7.

In the nightcap, Felician closer Jeff Calabrese (Freehold, NJ) entered with his team up, 12-9, one out, and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. He allowed a run-scoring walk and a sacrifice fly before escaping with the lead, then struck out all three hitters in the ninth for his second save. Starter William Senna (Wallingford, CT) (2-0) struck out four and gave up eight earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

Melendez's run-scoring groundout capped a three-run fourth inning rally which allowed the Golden Falcons (11-13, 1-2) to tie the game, 7-7. In the fifth, Felician took the lead for good when Albie Sanguiliano (Flemington, NJ) stroked a one-out RBI triple and scored on Ryan Iannelli's (Clarksboro, NJ) single. Melendez was 4 for 6 with four runs batted in and Noval was 4 for 5 with a homerun and three runs scored. Jason Rust (Greenwood, DE) drove in five runs for the Wildcats.

Wilmington (13-5, 2-1) took a 7-3 lead after four innings of Game 1, then put the game away by scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth. Starter Joe Matterer (Newark, DE) improved to 5-0 on the season, allowing five runs on nine hits over six innings. Brian Testa (Wilmington, DE) and Mike Mundy (Newark, DE) homered for the Wildcats.

Felician starter Scott VanEs (Secaucus, NJ) (0-5) struck out a season-high 10 batters over 7 2/3 innings. He allowed all 10 Wilmington runs, but only four were earned. Melendez had two doubles and Chris Flynn (Keyport, NJ) was 2 for 4 with three RBI. Mike Wilson (Wilmington, DE) had three hits for the Wildcats.