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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team forced the "if necessary" game on Saturday, defeating Bridgeport, 8-0, on Saturday afternoon at Asbury Field in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship.
Game seven of the CACC Tournament will now be played on Sunday morning at Asbury Field, as rains forced the postponement of the final championship matchup. Sunday will be a winner-take-all game between No. 2 Bridgeport and No.1. Wilmington. The first pitch is scheduled for Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
The Wildcats offense came back to force on Saturday, scoring in every inning before bringing the mercy-rule into effect in the fifth inning. They scored three in the first, one run each in the second, third, and fourth innings, and then two in the fifth to end it.
Taylor Gillis started the bottom of the first with a single and then the Wildcats had runners on second and third with one out after a Tristyn Stewart single and stolen base. Now with two out, Gabriella Saucedo hit a seeing-eye single back up the middle, just out of the reach of a diving second baseman, plating both Gillis and Stewart for the 2-0 lead. Sam Freeland kept the inning going with a single and then Haley Downing shot one through the left side, making it 3-0 with the RBI single.
Taylor Gillis led off the second with a double and then Stewart made it a 4-0 lead with a single back up the middle.
Sam Freeland doubled to start the third and then Emma Zimmerman brought her home with a squeeze bunt to make it 5-0.
Bridgeport had their best shot in the top of the fourth, getting their lone hit of the day and putting two runners in scoring position with only one out. But Kylee Gunkel picked up a strikeout and induced a pop up to end the threat unscathed.
Taylor Gillis again led off an inning, hitting an infield single to start the fourth. Lexi Moore singled and the Wildcats had runners on second and third after a wild pitch. But the Wildcats only one run in the inning by being too aggressive on the basepaths, as Tristyn Stewart singled in Gillis for the 6-0 lead.
With runners on second and third and one out in the fifth, Taylor Gillis singled through the left side to scored Cassidy Zelano. Moving up to second on the throw to the plate, Bella Eleazar scored the eighth run as the ball sailed into right center trying to get Gillis at second.
Taylor Gillis went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored while Tristyn Stewart went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two stolen bases. Gabriella Saucedo batted 2-for-3 with two RBI while Sam Freeland and Julia Thuer added two hits each as well. Kylee Gunkel improved to 20-5 with the win, striking out five while only allowing one hit and two walks.
The two teams will play the deciding game on Sunday at Asbury Field. The CACC's automatic qualification into the NCAA Tournament is on the line.