Clermont, Fla. - - A late game comeback fell a run short in the nightcap for the Wilmington University softball as Southern Connecticut State swept a doubleheader, 11-3 and 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Hancock Park.
Playing their third and fourth games in less than 24 hours, the Wildcats (2-6 overall) struggled out of the gates in each contest as Southern Connecticut State (6-1) scored multiple runs earl to take command of each contest.
The Owls jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in game one after the first two innings, responding the to the Wildcats' two run top of the first with three runs of their own in the bottom half. The Wildcats tallied a run in the top of the second to tie the game, but the Owls took the wind out of Wilmington's sails with a four run bottom of the second to retake the lead.
After a scoreless third inning, the Owls added to their lead by putting another four spot on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Southern Connecticut State starter Jessica Van Alphen then shut the Wildcats down in order in the top of the fifth, bringing the eight run rule into effect.
Michelle Panasiti put the Wildcats on the board in the top of the first, singling to center to score Miranda Pedersen who hit a two-out double. Jen Fischbach followed with an RBI single to right, putting the Wildcat in front 2-0 after a half inning. A fielding error in the top of the second allowed Shannon McMahon to score after she reached by singling into left field.
Ashley Bennett was the only Wildcat to record multiple hits, going 2-for-2 in the opening game.
The Owls again jumped out to a large lead early in the nightcap, scoring all six runs in the first three innings. A four run second inning gave Southern Connecticut State a 5-0 lead before another single run in the third brought the score to 6-0 after two and a half innings.
That's when the Wildcats started a rally, putting their own four runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Three straight fielding errors by the Owls allowed the Wildcats to load the bases without recording an out. Another error off the bat of Fischbach gave the Wildcats their first run of the inning before Panasiti singled into center for two more runs. Rice Fazio capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center, deep enough to score Fischbach from third to bring the Wildcats to within 6-4 after three full innings.
The next three innings remained scoreless for both squads before the Wildcats started another rally in their final at-bat. Cambria Ziemba started the rally with a one-out single to left, followed by another single by Pedersen. With runners on first and second, Fischbach doubled to left field, scoring Ziemba and putting the tying run on third base with only one out. But the Owls escaped by getting a ground ball double play to the shortstop, tagging the runner going to third before throwing over to first to end the contest.
Both Fischbach and Panasiti collected two RBI in the nightcap while eight separate Wildcats recorded one hit each in the game. Fischbach also tossed the final 5.2 innings of game two, giving up one run on four hits in the no decision.
The Wildcats get a much deserved day off on Monday before returning to action on Tuesday to begin their final three days of games in Florida. They will face Alderson-Broaddus at the National Training Center at 11 a.m. before heading to Winter Park, Fla. to play at Rollins at 5 p.m.
