PIPPA PASSES, KY – The Wilberforce University baseball team secured a non-conference sweep of Alice Lloyd Wednesday in two different fashions as pitching ruled the day in opener and then the bats came alive in the nightcap. 

GAME ONE: WILBERFORCE 4, ALICE LLOYD 1 

Senior Xavier Thompson (1-0) hurled a gem as the Bulldogs claimed the opener a non-conference twinbill, beating Alice Lloyd. 

The right hander turned in quite possibly the best outing of his career, tossing a complete game six-hitter, allowing his lone run on a solo homerun. He added six strikeouts over the seven innings of action. 

Senior Thomas Hampton came through clutch in the sixth inning with pivotal insurance runs with a two-out, two-run single, scoring junior Matthew Ladd-Wright and freshman Adam Mendoza. Hampton also had an RBI double in the second inning as he went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI.  

GAME TWO: WILBERFORCE 10, ALICE LLOYD 8 

Junior Julien Patton brought home a pair of runs to snap the tie in the top of the sixth inning, and junior Daunte Wright slammed the door shut with back-to-back strikeouts with bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.  

Wilberforce hopped out the lead on the strength of four runs in the top of the first inning and extended its lead to 8-2 with single runs in the third and fourth innings, and two more in the fifth.  

However, Alice Lloyd took advantage of six walks and a hit batter to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth.  

Sophomore Christopher Alcantara-Diaz led the sixth off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk by freshman Junior Vera Vasquez and an intentional walk to Ward, Wilberforce had bases loaded with one out. Setting up the aforementioned two-RBI, fielders choice by Patton.  

Senior Joe Mendy finished 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI, while Patten finished with three RBI. Alcantara-Diaz finished 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored; Veras Vasquez was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI; and Ward was 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.  

Kevin Hopkin (1-0) picked up the win in relief with two innings of work, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Ward earned his first save, striking out two in 0.2 innings. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

Wilberforce (2-2) returns to the diamond Tuesday, traveling to Rio Grande for a non-conference action.