CLERMONT, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team split a pair of games to kick off its annual Florida Trip, beating conference rival Dominican, 7-1, in a non-conference matchup before a late game rally allowed Wheeling Jesuit to take the night cap, 7-6, at the National Training Center late Friday night.
Stephanie Sarris pitched the Wildcats (2-2 overall) to victory in the first matchup, tossing a complete game with five strikeouts in her Wilmington debut. She only allowed four hits, giving up the only run of the night in the top of the second.
The offense came from the bat of leadoff hitter Kelsey Doherty, as she gave the Wildcats the lead for good with a solo shot to start the third inning. The Wildcats added a pair of runs in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Brooke Lachette, and an RBI single by Shannon McMahon.
Wilmington was able to put the game away in the sixth inning, scoring three runs to stretch the lead to 7-1. Michelle Panasiti tripled home the first run of the inning, followed by an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Cambria Ziemba. Wilmington's final run came by the third error of the inning for the Chargers, as Ziemba came around to score on an error on the shortstop. In all, Dominican tallied six errors in the game.
Doherty and Jen FIschbach collected two hits each in the win, added two runs scored a piece.
In the night cap, the Wildcats jumped out early against Wheeling Jesuit, scoring three runs in the top of the second. With two outs and a runner on second, an error gave the Wildcats their first run before Rice Fazio smashed a two-run home run for the quick 3-0 lead.
Wheeling Jesuit didn't fold, however, as it battled back to score two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings, before a big three run sixth put it in front for the first time. The Cardinals' Angie Reddick hit a three-run home run to give Wheeling Jesuit the 7-6 advantage.
Doherty added to her brilliant day with two more hits in the nightcap, as she finished 4-for-8 with three runs scored and two RBI in the two games.
Wilmington continues its Florida Trip on Saturday against a pair of nationally ranked opponents. The Wildcats first square off against No. 20 Grand Valley State at 4 p.m. followed by a game against No. 25 Shippensburg at 8 p.m.
