Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Kylee Gunkel and Delani Sheehan pitched the Wilmington University softball team past Goldey-Beacom in a 6-0 first-round victory in the 2023 CACC Championship Tournament Saturday at Asbury Field. The win gives the top-seeded Wildcats their first win over Goldey-Beacom in the playoffs in program history.
The victory advances the Wildcats (35-12) to the double-elimination portion of the CACC Tournament starting Thursday, hosted by Georgian Court.
Kylee Gunkel picked up her 17th win of the season in the circle and was perfect through the first four innings, retiring the first 12 batters she faced. Delani Sheehan came in for the save in the sixth inning and struck out the six batters she saw to earn the save and send the Wildcats to the semifinals of the CACC Tournament.
The Wildcats scored two in the second inning to take an early lead, thanks to back-to-back base hits. Haley Downin led things off with a single to third base, while Bella Eleazar turned a sacrifice bunt into a base hit. Emma Zimmerman moved both the runners up to second and third. Tristyn Stewart delivered a big two-out double that cleared the bases for the 2-0 lead.
Sara Miller hit her ninth home run of the season and 56th RBI with a solo shot to right-center in the third inning. She is now one homer off the single-season program record of 10 set by Annie Davila in 2021.
Base runners helped the Wildcats score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Cassidy Zelano and Danielle Hess were on second and third base. Tristyn Stewart worked a walk as the bases were loaded. A wild pitch allowed Hess to score. Then, Taylor Gillis doubled to left field, which scored two, as Gillis picked up two RBIs.
Bella Eleazar led the team with two hits, going 2-for-2. Gillis and Stewart both picked up two RBIs. Gunkel struck out three and only gave up one hit in five innings.
The Wildcats will head to Lakewood, New Jersey, to play the winner of No. 4 Bridgeport vs. No. 5 Felician on Thursday, May 4, at Georgian Court University, with more details to follow.
CACC Tournament Central Page: https://www.caccathletics.org/sports/Championship/2022-23/SOFT