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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Kylee Gunkel tossed her third complete game shutout of the postseason as the top-seeded Wilmington University softball team advanced to the NCAA East Region 1 Tournament Final with a 3-0 victory over No. 4 Assumption on Saturday at Asbury Field.
It is the third consecutive year the Wildcats will compete for a trip to the East Super Regional best-of-three series, winning the four-team pod in both 2022 and 2023.
The Wildcats (42-14) gave Gunkel all she needed in the top of the first, getting started by putting the first two runners on base. After a double steal to put Moore and Stewart in scoring position, Sara Miller hit a sacrifice fly to put the Wildcats on the board.
Gunkel set the Greyhounds down in order in the first two innings, allowing the offense to extend the lead in the top of the third.
Taylor Gillis started the third with her second walk of the game and was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice from Lexi Moore. Tristyn Stewart than dumped one into left field and Gillis scurried home ahead of the throw, getting her hand on the plate before the tag to make it 2-0. Sara Miller flied out to right, moving Stewart up to third, but then the ball got away from the third baseman on the relay, and Stewart raced home for the 3-0 lead.
Kylee Gunkel didn't allow a runner until one out in the fourth, and then she needed to work out of a jam to keep the Greyhounds off the scoreboard. She picked up a strikeout and a ground ball to leave two on and keep the Wildcats in front.
The Greyhounds hit a leadoff double to start the sixth, but Gunkel didn't allow her to move, inducing a popup, a fly ball, and a pop to exit the frame unscathed. Assumption again got a leadoff runner on base in the seventh, but again Gunkel left the runner at first, getting a near double play on a grounder, a strikeout, and a ground ball to Haley Downin to end the game, 3-0.
Kylee Gunkel improved to 21-5 on the year, the second most wins in a single season in program history, only trailing herself from last year when she won 23 games.
Lexi Moore had two of the team's three hits while Stewart had the RBI single. Taylor Gillis, Lexi Moore, and Tristyn Stewart all scored runs for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats will have a rematch against No. 4 Assumption in the Regional Final. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Asbury Field.