SPORTS

 

DAVIDSON — Parker Nolan’s go-ahead three-run home run turned things in Davidson’s favor, and Bennett Flynn quieted Rhode Island bats in a 9-5 Wildcats’ victory Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.

With it, the Wildcats improve to 31-7 overall and 10-2 in the Atlantic 10 at the midpoint of the conference schedule.

The win is also the 100th of head coach Rucker Taylor‘s career. Taylor, in his fourth season, has led the Wildcats to a 100-56 (.641) record.

The series win is the Wildcats’ ninth this season and fourth in the A-10, and they have won nine of their last 10 games with Friday’s series opener the lone exception.

“This team has done a wonderful job of playing each pitch for what it is and then moving on,” said Taylor. “This group is a lot of fun to be around because of the character and the effort they have invested.

“Today, Parker made some nice plays defensively and then had a big swing,” added Taylor. “Bennett came in and took control of the game for us. He was phenomenal.” 

Nolan’s home run, his ninth of the year, came as part of a four-run sixth. The Wildcats entered the inning trailing 5-3 before Trevor Candelaria singled up the middle to drive in John Hosmer. Then Nolan followed with his shot to left to make it 7-5.

Davidson then added runs on RBI-doubles by Tyler Douglas and Ryan Wilson in the seventh and eighth, respectively.

Flynn (3-1) came on to pitch in the fifth and finished the game, throwing five innings, scattering four hits and striking out eight without surrendering a run or a walk.

Jacob Hinderleider and Michael Carico hit solo home runs when the Wildcats were trailing Sunday, helping to keep them within striking distance, and Douglas also had an RBI-single.

Candelaria, Wilson and Hinderleider had three hits apiece, and six Wildcats drove in runs.

Baseball Cruises By Rhode Island on Saturday for 30th Win

The Davidson Wildcats put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in each of the first seven innings Saturday afternoon in a 23-12 dismantling of Rhode Island at Wilson Field.

The win is the Wildcats’ 30th of the year, marking the third time in program history — and earliest in a season — the Wildcats have reached the milestone. The Wildcats improved to 9-2 in Atlantic 10 play to remain alone in first place and scored the most runs they have since scoring 24 in a win at La Salle on April 7, 2017.

Four Wildcats drove in three runs apiece, including Michael Carico and John Hosmer who hit three-run home runs in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively. Jacob Hinderleider drove in three with a bases-clearing double in the first, which gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead and started a streak of 23 unanswered runs. And Trevor Candelaria had a two-run single in the third, then was one of seven Wildcats to drive in a run with a bases-loaded walk.

Davidson’s biggest inning was a five-run third that included Candelaria’s two-run hit and one by Henry Koehler, as well as four walks and a hit batter.

In all, the Rams walked 18 batters.

Blake Hely improved to 6-0 in a seven-inning effort on the mound. The right-hander struck out nine and allowed four hits and two earned runs.