WILMINGTON, Del. - - Gracie Mabrey hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to lift the No. 2 Wilmington University softball team to a 4-2 victory over No. 7 Southern New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Division II East Region 2 Tournament at Goldey-Beacom on Thursday afternoon.
Trailing 2-0 after two innings, the Wildcats (33-16) scored two in the fourth and two in the fifth to comeback and defeat the Penmen (25-18). With the win, the Wildcats advance into the winner's bracket on Friday and will play Goldey-Beacom at Asbury Field, the home of the Wildcats, at 10:00 a.m. Goldey-Beacom defeated Bridgeport, 7-5, in the other first round game on Thursday.
The Penmen started the second with a walk and a opened the scoring with a double. A two-out triple plated the second run for the 2-0 lead.
Haley Grygo started the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff double. Maddie Vollmar cut the deficit in half with another double and then was standing at third with one out. Sydney Hatch tied the game with an RBI double.
Delani Sheehan left a 2-out walk on first in the top of the fifth, bringing the bats back up to the plate. Cassidy Zelano started the inning with an infield single and then Tristyn Stewart put runs on second and third with another single. Gracie Mabrey then came through with a two-run single into right, giving the Wildcats a 4-2 lead.
The Penmen put runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but Sheehan picked up a strikeout and an inning ending foul out to escape the jam. Sheehan then set the Penmen down in order in the top of the seventh to lock down the victory.
Sheehan pitched the final six innings in relief to earn the win, moving to 12-7 on the year. She struck out six while only allowing five hits and a walk. Seven different Wildcats came through with one hit each in the game. Haley Grygo, Maddie Vollmar, Sydney Hatch, and Emma Zimmerman each hit doubles.
The winner's bracket game is scheduled to be played at Wilmington University's Asbury Field in New Castle, Delaware. The rest of the Division II Regional Bracket will continue at the Jackson Athletics Complex on the campus of Goldey-Beacom. The first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.