PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University softball team widened the margin atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings with a pair of victories over Jefferson on Tuesday, 7-1 and 5-2, on the campus of Thomas Jefferson.
The Wildcats move to 15-1 in conference play, three losses ahead of Bloomfield who stands at 10-4 and four losses ahead of Bridgeport in second place by win percentage points at 15-5.
GAME 1:
Haley Downin nearly tossed a complete game shutout as the offense scored seven runs in four consecutive innings to win the opener.
The Wildcats' first two runs of the game came on errors and then Gabriella Saucedo knocked in Tristyn Stewart with an RBI single to make it 3-0 in the third inning.
With runners on second and third in the fourth, Lexi Moore and Stewart executed back-to-back safety squeeze bunts to make it 5-0. Saucedo then hit a sacrifice fly to add another run, making it 6-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
Emma Zimmerman started the fifth with a double and then pinch runner Gigi Duca scored on a two-out RBI single from Sam Freeland to cap the Wildcat scoring, 7-0.
Downin went into the seventh inning while keeping the Rams scoreless, but a two-out RBI single plated a run, ending the shutout. Despite losing the shutout, Downin still earned the win, improving to 2-2 on the year while striking out four in allowing a run on seven hits.
Tristyn Stewart went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Sam Freeland went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gabriella Saucedo led the team with two RBI.
GAME 2:
A four-run second inning turned a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead for the Wildcats, as they went on to win, 5-2, to earn the sweep.
Trailing 2-0, Isabella Eleazar started the comeback with a one-out single. Julia Thuer started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, but then Rylee Maloney hit a two-out single into left center to tie the game, 2-2. Now with the bases loaded and two outs, Eve Serrato hit a two-run double, giving the Wildcats the lead for good, 4-2.
Julia Thuer added another sacrifice, this time a squeeze bunt in the top of the third inning, scoring Eleazar for her second RBI of the game and the 5-2 lead.
Kylee Gunkel came on in relief to start the bottom of the third and went the rest of the way only allowing two hits while striking out five batters. She improved to 15-4 on the year.
Lexi Moore went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases while Isabella Eleazar went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Eve Serrato led with two RBI in the nightcap.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have three CACC doubleheaders remaining in the regular season, starting on Thursday with a trip to Orangeburg, New York, to take on Dominican. The first pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2:30 p.m.