Goldey-Beacom recorded yet another solid run in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament that took it to the final, but that journey ended with a 12-3 loss to Wilmington (DE) in Waterbury, CT.
Playing in championship weekend for the third time in the last four years, the Lightning rallied for victories over Jefferson and Felician earlier in the week to reach the final for the first time in program history. This also marks the third straight year one has eliminated the other from the league tournament with Goldey-Beacom doing the first-round honors in 2024 and Wilmington returning favor in the same round last season.
Goldey-Beacom now waits for what is expected to be good news from the selection committee on whether it will make the NCAA Tournament. The tournament field will be announced Sunday at 10:00 pm on NCAA.com with an appearance being the Lightning's fourth straight and fifth in the last six years.
Wilmington got things going in the first with Brian Klumpp's RBI triple and Chase Fleming's run-scoring groundout for a 2-0 lead. Stephen Katch and D'Angelo Ponce each got an RBI single in the second for a 4-0 margin.
The Lightning got one back in the third when sophomore Jaime Neris Jr. (Philadelphia, PA) lifted a sacrifice fly, but the Wildcats plated two in the fifth for a 6-1 contest on Brett Walmsley's two-run single.
Goldey-Beacom (33-22), as it has done all season, continued to make things interesting with two runs in the seventh for a 6-3 game. Junior Bobby Stewart (Newark, DE) and second team All-CACC pick Roman Keith (Selbyville, DE) each singled with both scoring on a single from second team All-CACC selection Jake Macey (Smyrna, DE).
But the Wildcats (39-15) plated five in the last of the frame for an 11-3 margin, highlighted by a back-breaking, three-run triple from Cam Trego.
Stewart and sophomore Brent Williams (Woodstown, NJ) closed with two hits apiece for the Lightning.
Trego recorded three hits with Walmsley also getting three RBI. Dylan Potero gave up no earned runs over six innings for the win and Scott Borgmann tossed 2 2/3 frames for the save, which included getting out of the seventh inning.
Keith, sophomore Zach Smethers (Nazareth, PA) and freshman Kaden Barmer (Edgewood, MD) were named to the all-tournament team. Keith batted .435 (10-for-23) over the six games with five RBI, Smethers hit .458 (11-for-24) with three doubles and nine RBI and Barmer cracked the game-winning home run in Thursday's opener against Jefferson.
Stewart closed the tournament with team highs of 12 hits, 12 RBI and four doubles.
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