CLERMONT, Fla. - - Two big innings led to two big wins for the Wilmington University softball as they defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 6-1 and Dominican 7-2 on day seven of the Wildcats two-week trip to the National Training Center in Florida.
The Wildcats (3-8) used a four run first inning in game one against West Virginia Wesleyan and a seven run second inning against Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rival Dominican in the second game of the day to sweep the day-night doubleheader.
Wilmington jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the Bobcats in the first game of the day, but it was a four run first inning that set the tempo of the game. Shelby Thompson walked to lead of the game before an error by the Bobcats' second basemen put runners on first and second with no outs. Brooke Berger advanced the runners 60 feet with a sacrifice bunt, but the Wildcats loaded the bases when Jillian Stafford was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch.
The four runs in the first frame came on one swing of the bat, as Christin Headley stepped up and belted a grand slam, putting the Wildcats ahead, 4-0. Kinsley Parker restarted the inning with a single into left field, but West Virginia Wesleyan starter Jacqueline Omichinski got out of the inning without any further damage.
The Wildcats tacked on two more runs in the third to put the game away on a two-out rally. Stafford reached on a Bobcat error, and Parker followed with a single two batters later. Rachel Painter made the error hurt, as she smacked a two-run double to chase Stafford and Parker around for the 6-0 lead.
West Virginia Wesleyan (0-2) got a run back in the bottom of the third as Paige Cummings singled up the middle off Wildcat starter Danielle Griffin to score Amanda Davis who started the innings off by reaching on an error. But Griffin buckled down and got her counterpart Omichinski out on a ground ball to Kayla Carrow at second for the final out of the inning.
Chelsea Botsch came in for the final two innings of action and shut down the Bobcats while allowing only two base runners. She struck out four and walked one to close out the game.
Parker finished game one 2-for-3 with a run scored as Headley lead the way with the four RBI's. Painter went 1-for-2 with two RBI's to close out the hits for the Wildcats. Griffin pitched five effective innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits. She struck out two Bobcat batters while not allowing a walk to pick up her first win of the season.
Wilmington saw a familiar face in game two, as they squared off against Dominican (2-4) in a nonconference matchup. The Wildcats fell behind early but used a seven-run second inning to take control and rode the arms of Botsch and Griffin once again to pick up the second win of the day.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the top of the second inning, Headley started the rally with a leadoff walk. Parker's attempt at a sacrifice did more than expected, as an error by the Chargers' first baseman allowed Headley to race all the way around to score. Parker advanced to third on the play. Painter followed suit with an RBI double to really start the damage.
Now with one out and Painter on second, Carrow singled to put runners on first and third. Two batters and one out later, Thompson reached on a fielder's choice, as Painter scored on the play. Jessica Hassman got in on the action as well, singling home Carrow in the next at-bat. Berger also singled, scoring Thompson to make it 5-0.
Still with one out and two runners on, Stafford doubled in the final two runs of the inning. Stafford attempted to make it 8-0, trying to score as Parker hit one to the shortstop, but the Bobcats cut the runner down at the plate to hold it to a seven run deficit.
From there, it was all Botsch and Griffin to secure the team's second straight victory. Botsch threw four innings and gave up two runs on five hits. She struck out two batters and allowed a walk while picking up her first win of the season and career (1-3). Griffin threw the final three innings, allowing three hits and two walks, but did not give up a run while earning her first save of the season.
The Wildcats got 10 hits in the game, led by Berger and Painter who each went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI apiece. Thompson, Hassman, Stafford, Headley, Parker and Carrow collected the other six hits for the 'Cats.
Wilmington will take a day off on Saturday, but will return to action on Sunday, March 4 for another doubleheader at the National Training Center. They will battle Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) at 1 p.m. before facing Assumption College in the nightcap at 3 p..m.
