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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - After honoring its nine seniors during pregame, the No. 21 ranked Wilmington University softball team locked up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with a sweep of Post, 3-1 and 9-2, on Saturday afternoon at Asbury Field.
It is the second year in a row the Wildcats have clinched the No. 1 seed for the CACC Tournament and now at least a share of the CACC Regular Season Championship. The Wildcats need to win one of their final four CACC games to claim the Regular Season outright for the second year in a row.
GAME 1:
Post jumped out in front on the Wildcats just two batters into the contest. But then starter Haley Downin settled in and didn't allow another run, striking out a career high nine batters in the complete game victory.
The Wildcats then answered in the bottom of the first by putting the first two batters into scoring position. Sam Freeland hit an RBI groundout and then Sara Miller doubled in Lexi Moore to make it 2-1 and take the lead for good.
A first and third play brought in the Wildcats' third run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Downin continued to cruise in the circle.
Downin induced a pair of double plays, firs tint eh top of the fourth and then in the top of the seventh to end the game. She struck out four straight between the first and second innings on her way to nine punchouts.
Arianna Millan went 3-for-3 while Taylor Gillis went 2-for-4 with a double. Sam Freeland went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opener.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats scored in all but one inning in the nightcap, picking up the sweep on Senior Day.
Tristyn Stewart raced to a double in the bottom of the second, plating both Emma Zimmerman and Arianna Millan to make it a 3-0 game.
The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, cutting into the deficit with a two-run single. But then Delanie Sheehan worked her way out of the jam, picking up a pair of strikeouts to keep the damage to a minimum.
The bottom of the third was the only inning the Wildcats didn't score, as Lexi Moore put the team back on the board with two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Two more runs came home on an bunt single and an RBI groundout before Isabella Eleazar knocked in a run in the sixth. The Wildcats added a final run on a first and third steal play, capping the score at 9-2.
Kylee Gunkel came on in relief and pitched four scoreless innings, not allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts. She improved to 16-4 on the year with the win in relief.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have one final home doubleheader in the regular season, as they welcome Bloomfield to Asbury Field on Wednesday afternoon. The first game of the doubleheader is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
