May/Iazzetta Homer as Baseball Falls to Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL. – The Wheeling University Baseball team (0-2, 0-0) continued their Florida trip on Friday when they took on Lynn University. The Cardinals got on the board early and flexed their muscles with two home runs, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the Knights 16-8. It was the second straight game where Wheeling scored 7+ runs and they flexed their muscles with the team's first two home runs of the season.
Unlike their game yesterday, the Cardinals were the ones to get on the board first in the top of the first. Jack Skantze, who had a big day in the opener, started the game with a single before junior Riley Cameron drove in Wheeling's first run of the day. He lined an RBI triple to right field scoring Skantze and getting the Cardinals ahead 1-0. With a runner at third and no one out, the Cardinals would capitalize one batter later when J.R. Heavilin lined a one-out single up the middle scoring Cameron and giving Wheeling a 2-0 lead. It marked the first time that Wheeling got to take the field with a lead this season as Hayden Wilcox took the mound for his first start of the season.
He faced four batters in the first, allowing one to reach via a walk, and after an inning, Wheeling was ahead 1-0. However, the hot start for the Cardinals wouldn't last as they were held off the board in each of the next three innings. Across the diamond, the Knights would get their offense going with three runs in the second and a run in the third to build a 4-2 lead as the game moved toward the fourth inning. It was a strong showing for Wilcox in his season debut as he lasted 1.2 innings allowing a run without allowing a hit while walking two batters. The Cardinals were looking to back up his effort and were back on the board in the fifth inning.
Lucas Rawlins would stare the inning by reaching on an error, bringing Anthony May to the plate with a runner on and nobody out. May had singled in his first at-bat of the night, but would be stranded on base and was looking for his first multi-hit game of the season. He would come through in a big way launching his first home run of the season to left field and tying the game at 4-4. May hit two home runs last season and starts 2022 off right with his first home run coming in the second game of the season. However, the tied game would not last long as Lynn added eight runs in the bottom of the fifth and turned a 4-4 game into a 12-4 game. The Knights added two more runs in each of the next two innings and led 16-4 after seven innings of play.
With their backs against the wall, Wheeling would once again find their stride in the top of the eighth inning. Pete Toula singled to start the inning, and Cameron picked up his second extra-base hit of the day with a double that put runners on second and third with one out. It brought to the plate one of Wheeling's most productive hitters from last season, Chris Iazzetta. The outfielder would come through again lifting a three-run home run to left field and got Wheeling back on the board and brought the score to 16-7. The Cardinals would add one more run in the top of the ninth on a Toula RBI Groundout, but that is where the game ended with Wheeling falling 16-8.
Anthony May led the Wheeling offense going 2-3 with a home run and two RBI and was one of three Cardinals to finish with a multi-hit game. Riley Cameron had his best game to date, going 2-4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI, and J.R. Heavilin finished 2-2 with an RBI. Chris Iazzetta finished 1-4 on the day but came through with one of the biggest hits of the day on a three-run home run. Seven Cardinal pitchers combined to throw eight innings on the day, with all eight of them making their season debut. Hayden Wilcox turned in a strong start, allowing a run over 1.2 innings, and TJ Nikhazy finished out the game with 2.0 innings allowing two runs while walking two.
Wheeling wraps up their Florida trip on Saturday when they head to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to face Nova Southeastern University. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.