LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University softball team used five home runs in a doubleheader sweep at Georgian Court on Wednesday, 5-2 and 3-2, hitting three solo jacks to account for all three runs in game two at GCU Field One.
Kelsey Doherty led off the doubleheader with a solo shot before adding another solo shot in the fifth in game one, before Ashley Bennett, Jen Fischbach, and Colby Wyatt all hit solo shots for the Wildcats (16-14, 8-2 CACC) in the nightcap to defeat the Lions (19-14, 13-3 CACC).
With the Lions leading 2-1 after three innings to start the doubleheader, the Wildcats tallied three runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good.
With two outs and Bennett on first, Fischbach kept the inning alive with a single through the left side. Michelle Panasiti followed suit with a double to center field, tying the game as Bennett came around to score from second. Wyatt then doubled to right field to clear the bases, giving the Wildcats a 4-2 lead.
With one out in the fifth, Doherty smashed her second solo shot of the game, bringing the final score to 5-2 as senior Stephanie Sarris closed out the game with tossing the final 4.2 innings while striking out eight batters.
Doherty's 2-for-4 performance led the Wildcats in the opener, as Fischbach, Panasiti, and Wyatt rounded out the Wildcats' five hits in the first game. The combination of Fischbach and Sarris in the circle stymied the Lions, as they only mustered three hits and struck out nine times in the opener.
The Wildcats then scored all three runs in the middle innings of game two, tallying the game's first run in the third before taking a 3-1 lead with two more runs in the fourth inning.
Wyatt led off the third with a home run to right center, putting the Wildcats on the board. With one out in the fifth, Doherty and Fischbach went back-to-back with solo jacks, soring all the runs Sarris and Fischbach would need once again in the circle.
Sarris tossed the first six innings of the nightcap, striking out two more batters while only allowing five hits and one walk. After allowing a run in the bottom of the sixth, Fischbach came on in the home half of the seventh, earning the save as she left a runner on base, striking out a Lion to end the contest.
Bennett led the Wildcats with a 2-for-3 performance in the second game, knocking in a run whole scoring one more. Meghan Logullo, Fischbach, Wyatt, and Shannon McMahon rounded out the Wildcat hits in the nightcap.
The Wildcats don't have any time to soak in the doubleheader sweep, as they return to action on Thursday for another CACC doubleheader. The Wildcats host CACC rival Holy Family for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.