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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - One bad inning was all the difference in earning a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference split on Saturday, as the Wilmington University softball team dropped the opener, 12-8, before coming back to win the nightcap, 8-0, in five innings at Asbury Field.
The win in game two was head coach Mike Shehorn's 400th career victory, as he continues to lead the Wildcats in his 13th season. Already the program leader in wins, Shehorn now stands with a 400-235, good enough for a .630 win percentage.
GAME 1:
A nine-run top of the sixth inning turned the opening game on its head on Saturday, as Felician came back from an 8-3 deficit to steal game one.
The Wildcats (11-19, 3-3 CACC) used a 5-run third inning to break a 1-1 tie, and then tacked on two more in the fourth. An Addison Sabo sacrifice bunt started the scoring, as two scored on the play. Another error allowed Sabo to score and then Cassidy Zelano had a bunt single to score a fourth run while Mia Lane kept running around third, scoring on the play to make it 6-2.
Felician got a run back in the fourth, but the Wildcats answered right back. After Alexa Eiseman and Haley Grygo singles, Jess Reed doubled to the gap in right center, scoring both runners to make it 8-3.
But the game reversed in the sixth, as Felician scored nine runs on eight hits and one error, with eight of the runs coming with two outs in the frame. The Wildcats tried to make things interesting in the home half, loading the bases with two outs but were unable to scratch across a run.
The Wildcats then put two on in the seventh before Felician slammed the door for the game one victory, 12-8.
Haley Grygo went 3-for-3 with three runs scored while Jess Reed went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. Alexa Eisemann went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored while Addison Sabo added two hits and an RBI as well.
GAME 2:
Olivia Hitchens settled the pitching staff down in the nightcap, allowing the offense to take out its frustration to earn the split.
The Wildcats scored in all four of their at-bats in game two, scoring on an RBI triple from Maddie Vollmar in the bottom of the first.
An error allowed the first run of the second inning come in and then Haley Grygo doubled in two more to make it 4-0. A double steal in the third inning made it 5-0 with Addison Sabo crossing the plate.
The final runs came off the bat of Gabriella Saucedo, hitting a two-out, three-run double to left, chasing Grygo, Hailey Trapani, and Krista Brunson around for the 8-0 lead.
The Golden Falcons hit a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, but then Olivia Hitchens got the next three batters out, leaving the runner on second to end the game.
Hitchens allowed four hits in her complete game shutout, striking out one while walking one. Haley Grygo led the offense by going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Gabriella Saucedo led with the three RBI.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats remain in CACC play with their next doubleheader, as they head to Philadelphia to take on Jefferson on Tuesday. The first pitch against the Rams is set for 2:30 p.m.