Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team split a pair of games on Sunday in Winter Haven, Florida, winning the first contest against Sioux Falls in extras, 4-3, before falling to Seton Hill, 8-0, to kick off their Spring Break trip.
Kasey Xenidis threw six stellar relief innings in Game 1 with Maddie Vollmar playing the hero in the eighth inning, but the team's offense couldn't get going in Game 2 before the game finished in five innings.
GAME 1 vs. SIOUX FALLS:
Sioux Falls got out to an early lead in the first inning, bringing in two on a fielding error and a third on an RBI single. After a two-out single in the second, though, the Cougars were held hitless until the seventh inning by Julia Scannapieco and Kasey Xenidis.
The Wildcat offense struggled over the first couple of innings before Mia Lane picked up the team's first hit of the game, a one-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth that brought in Gabriella Saucedo from second. Then in the fifth, Saucedo singled down the right field line with two outs to drive in Caroline Scott from second before scoring the tying run on a throwing error by the third baseman. The go-ahead run was stranded on third, however, and after both offenses went 1-2-3 in the sixth and had a hit apiece in the seventh, the game went to extras.
The Cougars moved their tiebreaker runner from second to third with a bunt to open the frame, but the next batter grounded one to Cassidy Zelano at short, which she fired home to cut down the go-ahead run. The next batter lined out to third for out number three, giving the Wildcats a golden opportunity for a walk-off. And walk it off they did, with Maddie Vollmar driving a single to right field to score Beall after Saucedo moved her over with a sac bunt.
Kasey Xenidis picked up the win in the circle, pitching the final six innings following two single innings by Olivia Hitchens and Julia Scannapieco, and allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out four. Jaydyn Beall, Gabriella Saucedo, Mia Lane, and Maddie Vollmar each had a knock to make up Wilmington's four in the game, with Lane's the only one to go for extra bases. The team struck out ten times, but paired that with seven walks at the plate.
GAME 2 vs. SETON HILL:
Each team had a pair of hits in the first three innings, with Maddie Vollmar pitching well for the Wildcats. Wilmington's best scoring opportunities of the game came in the first and second innings, when they stranded runners on second and third with two outs in both frames.
The Griffins got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double, but the real damage came in the fifth. With Vollmar out of the game, Seton Hill plated six runs on five hits and five walks, forcing the eight-run rule into effect on a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
Cassidy Zelano and Bri Greenlaw each had a single, and Maddie Vollmar roped a double. Vollmar took the loss in the circle after giving up two earned runs in four innings on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will be in Florida over the course of the upcoming week, with their next matchup coming at #15 Saint Leo tomorrow evening. First pitch of the double dip is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
