NEWS

Wilson Perkins on the mound in the ‘Cats series opener against Penn State.

SATURDAY — Wilson Perkins set the tone on the mound and Davidson hit a season-high three home runs in a 14-2 Wildcats’ win over Penn State Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.

The Wildcats improved to 4-5 as the game ended in the seventh inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Perkins turned in his best start to-date, tossing six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs and striking out eight to get the win.

And he had early run support, as the Wildcats scored six in the first inning off of six walks and two hits, including a two-RBI Nick Calero single.

Then came two-run home runs in three consecutive innings. Michael O’Shaughnessy’s blast to right field, his team-leading third of the year, made it 8-1 after two. Jacob Friend’s shot to right made it 10-1 in the third, and Jake Wilhoit’s homer to left pushed it to 12-2 in the fourth.

Jed Howard and Jack Cotrone had RBI-hits in the fifth to finalize the scoring, and Jason Ban closed out the game on the mound.  

Friend, Eli Putnam and Tyler Douglas had two hits apiece, and seven Wildcats drove in runs.

The win is the 146th for head coach Rucker Taylor, moving him into second place on the program’s all-time wins list. 

Jed Howard with a 2-RBI double to get the ‘Cats on the scoreboard.

SUNDAY — Penn State won both games of Sunday’s doubleheader at Wilson Field and secured a series victory over the Davidson Wildcats as well.

With the 14-7 and 6-4 setbacks, the Wildcats exited the weekend 4-7. Penn State, of the Big Ten, improved to 7-3.

Game 1
Penn State scored three runs in the first inning Sunday and never trailed en route to a 14-7 win.

Jake Wilhoit provided the offensive highlight for the Wildcats, hitting a two-run home run to left in the seventh. It was Wilhoit’s third of the year and his second of the series.

Jacob Friend and Jed Howard also drove in two runs apiece. 

Eli Putnam watching the ball leave Wilson Field for a grand slam.

Game 2
Jack Cotrone’s single to third broke up a no-hitter in the sixth inning, and Eli Putnam hit a grand slam moments later to get the Wildcats, previously down 6-0, within reach.

Putnam’s blast was his third of the year, tying him for the team lead with Michael O’Shaughnessy and Wilhoit.

But Penn State held onto its 6-4 lead the rest of the way, allowing just one more Davidson hit, a Nick Calero single in the seventh.

Reliever Matt Weber allowed just one hit over the final three innings and struck out four.

Center fielder Aidan Rice made a highlight-reel robbery of a fly ball in the sixth inning, jumping against the wall and retrieving it.

Up Next
Davidson will visit South Carolina Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats’ traditional home run celebration after Putnam’s grand slam.