Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team fell 8-0 and 6-2 in a doubleheader at Embry-Riddle University on Tuesday, putting the Wildcats on a five-game losing streak in Florida.
The Eagles' bats never really slowed down throughout Game 1 to give them a five-inning victory, and then a pair of three-run innings charged their win in the nightcap.
GAME 1:
Embry-Riddle scored multiple runs in three of the four innings that they came to the plate, allowing them to slowly build an eight-run lead that ended the contest after four and a half frames. The Eagles jumped on Kasey Xenidis for two runs in the first, four in the third, and two in the fourth, though the final run was unearned.
The Wildcats had a promising start on offense, with Cassidy Zelano and Gabriella Saucedo hitting back-to-back singles in the first, but Zelano was called out at second on the play, and a subsequent strikeout got the Eagles out of trouble.
Saucedo also hit a ground-rule double in the fourth, and Angelina Edwards singled in the fifth, but both runners were stranded.
Xenidis' final line was eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts over four innings, with the loss moving her to 1-2 on the year.
GAME 2:
Wilmington shuffled the lineup a bit in Game 2, and like Game 1, it looked to possibly be providing an early spark when Gabriella Saucedo led the game off with a single. After Jaydyn Beall bunted her over to second, though, the next two hitters grounded and struck out to put a pin in the Wildcats' bid for a much-needed early lead.
Embry-Riddle scored three in the third inning on an RBI triple, a bunt single, and a wild pitch. Wilmington then got on the board on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the top of the fourth, with Angelina Edwards sprinting home from third. The Eagles had more offense in them, though, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double and a sac fly.
Wilmington had a two-out rally going in the top of the seventh when Jess Reed stepped up and put a ball in the 5-6 hole for an RBI infield single, but a subsequent pop-up ended the game.
The story of the game for both teams was missed scoring opportunities, as both squads left nine runners on base. Seven of those runners were left in scoring position for the Wildcats, and they twice loaded the bases (in the 4th and 7th) only to score one run in the inning. For the game, Wilmington hitters went 2-10 with two walks, a hit by pitch, and four punch outs with runners in scoring position.
Angelina Edwards was the only Wildcat with multiple hits, going 2-4. Alexa Eisemann ripped a double to left center, and Gabriella Saucedo, Jess Reed, and Rylee Maloney all had singles.
Olivia Hitchens took the loss in the circle, allowing six runs on ten hits with three walks and four strikeouts over six innings.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will get a much-needed day off on Wednesday after playing six games in three days in the Sunshine State. They'll stay on the East Coast and pick things up on Thursday, with a doubleheader against Florida Tech set to kick off at 4:00 p.m.
