Candelaria, Nolan Help Wildcats Lock Up Top Seed

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DAVIDSON —The 2-3 punch of Trevor Candelaria and Parker Nolan struck twice — and in a grand way each time — Thursday while helping the Davidson Wildcats lock up the top seed in next week's Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

With a 17-4 rout of George Mason at Wilson Field, the Wildcats (41-10 overall, 19-3 A-10) secured at least a share of the A-10 regular-season title and the top seed in the seven-team event. One more Wildcat win or a VCU loss would clinch the program's first outright regular-season conference championship.

"Clinching the 1 seed is nice and a first for our program," said Davidson coach Rucker Taylor. "It might give us a little more rest and help us be prepared for the tournament."

To lead the way, Candelaria hit two grand slams, and Nolan followed each one with a solo home run. Hitting second and third in the Wildcat order, the seniors did their damage in six-run fourth and fifth innings.

"It was just fun," said Candelaria. "That's what it's been all year. It's just been fun. And for Parker to hit two home runs right behind me, that was awesome."

Candelaria is just the second Wildcat to hit two grand slams in the same game, following Jeff Coker, who did it against Yale in 1997.

Nolan said he'd normally be surprised to see anyone hit two in one game.

"For him, I'm not surprised at all," he said.

"Trevor and Parker have been incredible all year, really starting from the first team meeting in the fall," said Taylor. "Today was a unique game for them with their home runs. I don't think I've ever been part of something like that."

Candelaria finished the day with nine RBIs, one shy of the school record held by Gus Quattlebaum (10 against VCU in 1997). The grand slams were the third and fourth of his career, after he hit two as a freshman. He's now hit 11 home runs this year, while Nolan is at 15.

The two outfield mates even teamed up on Davidson's first scoring play of the day. Henry Koehler hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored Michael Carico from third. Then Nolan, the runner at first base, forced a rundown near second, allowing Candelaria to round third and keep going for a 2-0 lead.

Candelaria finished with three hits, while Nolan and Jacob Hinderleider had two apiece. John Hosmer, Jacob Friend, Anthony Mase and Jake Wilhoit also drove in runs.

Starter Nolan DeVos (8-2) threw five innings, allowed one earned run and two hits and struck out four. Isaac Fix replaced him in the sixth, and his first strikeout was the 500th of the season for the Wildcats, a program record.

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The series continues Friday at 2 p.m.

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