HAMBURG, N.Y. – In a must-win situation, the Hilbert College baseball team came ready to play today.
The Hawks had reachable goals on the line and they met all three challenges.
With the AMCC sweep over Penn State Altoona (15-2 and 7-4) this afternoon, the 2016 baseball team set a new single season win record (11), tied their AMCC single season win record (6) and became the first team in the program's 12-year AMCC membership history to qualify for post season play.
Congratulation's Hawks!
Hilbert (11-19, 6-10) opened the day on fire. They totaled five runs in both the 1st and 3rd innings and added five more between the 5th and 6th (4 runs).
The Hawks collected 18 hits and scored 15 runs, both season highs with a .529 batting average.
Justin Hulbert shut down the Lions at the plate. He finished with 12 strike-outs, zero walks, one hit-by-pitch through six innings and set a new program All-Time record when he tagged on three strike-out looking for 37 in his career. Hulbert has collected 112 "K's" and will graduate in the #2 slot for the Hawks.
Altoona got on the board with a 2-run homer in the 5th, after getting only one hit through the first four.
Anthony Wurstner went 4-for-4 with an RBI as
Paul Wujek,
Ryan Bonafede, and
Kevin Moore each garnered three hits. Bonafede and Moore pushed in 3 runs and Wujek and
Bradley Perrin each scored three runs.
Tyler Shaw's double in the 6th inning joined Wujek, Bonafede and Moore with a 2-baggers in the opening game as the Lions had no answer to Hilbert's hot hands.
Wujek's stolen base in the bottom of the second inning tied the program's All-Time record at 33.
After a break between games, the Lions returned to the field a different team. Their batters went right after
Sal Carroccia who earned start for the 9-inning game.
Altoona got on the board in the top of the 1st and 2nd with single runs and added two more in the top of the 5th before the Hawks responded.
Hilbert started the bottom of the 5th with a pair of hits and loaded the base with a fielder's choice. Wurstner single RBI to right field scored Carroccia before Taylor Haug reached on a fielder's choice. The pitcher froze and threw the ball beyond 2nd base which scored two more runs.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the 6th, Carroccia got out of a bases loaded situation with a ground-out to second base.
Now the Hawks were back in the game and tacked three runs on before the 7th.
Bonafede and Carroccia were on 2nd and 1st when
Eric Flores doubled to left field scoring Bonafede.
Jesus Rivera singled up the middle and scored both Carroccia and Flores which gave the Hawks a 6-4 lead.
Still pumped up with the come-back rally, the Hawks turned a double play (Carroccia to Perrin to Moore) and got right back at it offensively. Altoona got out of the bottom of the 7th with bases-loaded swinging strike-out.
Three quick fly-outs by Altoona in the 8th allowed Hilbert to bat again within minutes of taking the field defensively.
After a pair of outs to start the bottom, Haug hit a single through the left side and trotted home when Wujek hit his second double of the day.
With a 7-4 lead and only three outs separating the Hawks from play-offs, Carroccia didn't hold back. His first out was swinging, second out looking and the third Lion batter flew out to center field.
The dug out cleared and the Hawks celebrated their accomplishment in the infield for several minutes.
Flores led with three hits and joined Wujek with the team's only doubles in the night cap.
The Hawks finished with 11 hits and seven RBIs.
Carroccia earned his 9th complete game and his seven strike-outs rank him 4th in the program in his three-year Hilbert career. The junior southpaw does lead the Hawks with most fly outs (128) and is tied with most ground outs (167) after he posted 11 and 8, respectively, today.
The Hawks' game at Baldwin Wallace on April 30 has been postponed but Hilbert is scheduled to host Utica College Tuesday, May 3 with a single, 9 inning 4pm contest.
Follow
this link for play-off details, as they have not been released at this point in time.
