Nicky Wohleking and Zach Wojnarowski combined to pitch a three-hitter on Saturday night, and the Deltaville Deltas pulled away late with a four-run eighth inning to defeat the top-seeded Richmond Smokies, 6-1.
Deltaville got on the board in the first inning when Spencer Crittenden drew a bases-loaded walk to give Deltaville an early 1-0 lead. The Deltas extended the lead to 2-0 in the third when Alexander Crittenden singled to lead off the inning, and scored on a single from Jay Sewer.
Meanwhile, Wohleking stunted the high-powered Smokies lineup for five shutout innings. After a hitless first inning, Wohleking escaped a pair of two-out hits in the second and a bases-loaded jam in the third without allowing a run. After a leadoff walk in the fourth, Wohleking retired his final six batters in order, finishing the night with six strikeouts. It was his fifth pitching victory for the Deltas this season in six decisions.
Wojnarowski took the mound in the sixth, and after a pair of walks led to the Smokies cutting the lead to 2-1, he retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, including striking out the side in the eighth inning. He was credited with the four-inning save.
Clinging to a one run lead, the Deltaville offense rallied in the eighth, taking advantage of a series of defensive errors, walks, and wild pitches to plate four runs, putting the game out of reach.
Hits were hard to come by for both teams, with Devin Sisson, S. Crittenden, A. Crittenden, Sewer, and Colby Roberts each accounting for a single hit. The Crittenden brothers led the offensive scoring, with Alexander scoring twice, and Spencer being credited with two RBIs.
With the win, the Deltas improved to 9-2 in league play, and 11-3 overall. They still sit solidly in third place, behind the Smokies (10-2) and first-place Team Woody (10-1).
The Deltas’ final home games of the season will be this Saturday night, in a special doubleheader at Deltaville Ballpark. Last week’s away game against the Richmond Brewers was rained out, and with the final home game being against the Brewers, the teams will play a pair of seven-inning games. The Brewers will play as the home team in the first game, and the Deltas will host the nightcap. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the nightcap following at approximately 7:30.