WILMINGTON- There’s an old adage in baseball that says “pitching wins championships.” That was certainly the case as 11-seed Whitcomb faced off against six-seed Twin Valley on Tuesday in the D-IV baseball playoffs. The Wildcats needed the pitching when it counted the most, but the team’s three pitchers gave up 15 walks and eight hits total, which was all the offense Whitcomb needed to upset Twin Valley on their home field and advance to the quarterfinals where they will face three-seed Williamstown.

Twin Valley’s Skyler Duncan took to the mound and got into trouble early. He gave up a walk, a hit, and two runs to the Hornets. But the Wildcats demonstrated their power behind the plate and took Whitcomb’s pitcher for a ride.

In the bottom of the first, Duncan knocked in Ryan Dix and George Molner to tie the score, while Duncan made it home on a Hornets’ throwing error. The run put the Wildcats on top, 3-2, while Duncan held Whitcomb scoreless in the second inning.

In the bottom of the third, Molner reached second, but was awarded an extra base due to an interference call. Ian Murdock came up to the plate and flied to left field. Molner tagged up, beat the throw to home, and the Wildcats doubled their lead, 4-2.

Duncan was showing signs of fatigue and Whitcomb took advantage. The Hornets tied the game at 4-4, but the Wildcat bats responded.

With Matt Bouker on third and Molner on second, Duncan crushed a spectacular shot to left field. Bouker and Molner scored on Duncan’s stand-up triple. The Wildcats took a 6-4 lead but their pitching began to unravel.

Duncan was taken out after he reached the maximum pitch count. Duncan pitched four innings, walked four, and struck out five in his final Wildcat outing.

Tony Bernard came in for relief but gave up four runs on five batters, including a three-run homer to the Hornets’ Dan Noel. Bernard was removed and Murdock finished the fifth inning.

The Wildcats clawed back in the bottom of the fifth. Bouker hit a bloop single to shallow left field and the Hornets left fielder was too late to catch it. Gus Wing came from second base to score and Whitcomb led 8-7, but the Wildcats’ pitching couldn’t respond.

In the sixth inning, Murdock gave up four walks and five runs, while Wing came in for relief and gave up six walks and four runs. Twin Valley’s pitching problems put the game out of reach and Whitcomb stunned Twin Valley, 19-7.

On offense, Molner went two for four and scored three runs; Duncan went two for four with four RBIs and a run scored; Dix, Murdock, and Wing went one for four, and Bouker went one for four with an RBI and a run scored.

“I never would’ve bet that the wheels would come off the wagon in the fourth inning. Giving them 15 walks was enough to give them the offense needed. It was uncharacteristic for our relievers,” said coach Duncan.

The Wildcats finish 7-10 on the season.