WATERBURY, Conn. - - Strong pitching efforts by Chelsea Botsch and Jillian Stafford helped the Wilmington University softball team earn a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep over Post University, 3-0 and 3-1, at LaMoy Field on Saturday.
Wilmington (24-16, 11-5 CACC) scored six runs in six different innings throughout the doubleheader, riding the arms of Botsch and Stafford to sit in fifth place in the CACC standings. Post (14-20, 7-12 CACC) also received complete games by Ashley Cummings and Johanna Rice, but could only combine to collect 10 hits in the doubleheader off the Wildcats.
Botsch worked her way through the first game, tossing all seven inning while only allowing four hits and not giving up any runs or walks. The sophomore struck out five batters in improving to 9-7 on the year with her first complete game shutout.
The Wildcats only mustered six hits in the first game, but finally got on the board in the top of the fourth off Cummings. Brook Ash collected her second hit of the game to lead off the fourth, helping her move closer to the all-time single season hits record. Christin Headley moved Ash to second base with a sacrifice bunt before Rachel Painter reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Ash to score from second for the game's first run.
Headley accounted for the Wildcats' second run of the game, smashing a double in the sixth to score Cambria Ziemba from first base. After singling to lead off the seventh, Brooke Berger scored on another Post error, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.
It was more than enough for Botsch in the middle of the circle, as she denied the Eagles any runs, working around hits in both the sixth and seventh inning. She induced a game-ending double play in the bottom of the seventh, fielding the grounder and tossing it to Headley at second before turning two.
Stafford leveled her season record, improving to 3-3 overall with a game two victory, throwing the complete with while only allowing one run on six hits.
The Wildcats got the bats going in the top of the first inning, scoring a run on two hits. Ziemba started the game off with a single through the right side, moving to second as Ash grounded out to third. Two batters later, Stafford helped herself out with a single into center field, scoring Ziemba from third for the game's first run.
Stafford would receive all the run support she would need with another run in the top of the third, as Headley took care of it all by herself, hitting her third home run of the season to center field.
Post got a run back in the bottom half of the inning, but Stafford got out of the jam while only allowing the one run on two hits. The Eagles would not have more than one batter on base the rest of the game.
Wilmington added an insurance run for Stafford in the top of the sixth inning, again on one swing of the bat. Senior Skye Boris hit her fourth home run of the year, a solo shot over the fence in left, for the 3-1 lead.
Stafford set the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the sixth and worked around a leadoff single in the seventh to close the door and pick up the CACC sweep for the Wildcats.
Ash and Stafford were the only Wildcats to record three hits in the two games, as Ash went 2-for-4 in game one and followed it up with a 1-for-4 performance in game two. Stafford went 1-for-3 in game one while hitting 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two. With the three hits, Ash now has 59 hits on the season, three off the all-time single season mark for a Wildcat.
The Wildcats, who have now won 12 out of their 14 games, return home to Asbury Field this week for three CACC doubleheaders. They will play Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at their home field, first starting with Chestnut Hill on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
