Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A 6-0 shutout in Game 2 salvaged the doubleheader for the Wilmington University softball team on Tuesday, following a 9-2 defeat at the hands of Jefferson in Philadelphia in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup.
The Wildcats are now 12-20 on the season and 4-4 in CACC play, with Tuesday's games continuing a trend of Game 1 struggles before a Game 2 bounceback. On days they've played the same opponent twice, Wilmington has gone 4-11 with a -51 run differential in Game 1s and 7-8 with a +9 run differential in Game 2s.
After Wilmington allowed nine runs in Game 1 with a pair of four-run innings, Olivia Hitchens and Karen Sickle combined to shut Jefferson out in Game 2, stranding eight Rams on base over the course of the contest. The team's 11 hits were spread out across nine Wildcats, with five different players recording an RBI.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats jumped on top quickly, taking advantage of a Ram miscue to lead off the game. Haley Grygo reached on a fielding error, stole second, and then two batters later was brought home with a bunt single by Gabriella Saucedo.
The Rams put a lone runner on in each of the first two innings but couldn't put together a response until the third. Three straight Jefferson hits put them ahead 2-1, then the fourth batter reached on a fielding error. A two-out hit by pitch loaded the bases, prolonging the inning to allow a single through the right side that scored two more.
Mia Lane led the fourth off with an infield single, then came around to score on a bad throw by the Ram first baseman attempting to catch her going second to third on a groundout. Jefferson got the run right back, though, picking up a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the frame to make it 5-2.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fifth, first when a bases-loaded single brought home one run on the hit, and a second when the throw from the outfield went to the backstop. The next hitter reached on a bad hop grounder to short, also allowing a third run to score, and then the inning's fourth and final run came across on a wild pitch.
The Wildcats put runners on in each of the final two innings but stranded three.
Olivia Hitchens took the loss, pitching the first 2.2 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Maddie Vollmar, Kasey Xenidis, and Clara Babyak covered the rest of the game and allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks with a pair of punchouts.
At the plate, Mia Lane was the only Wildcat with multiple hits, going 2-3 and scoring a run. Haley Grygo scored the other run, while she and Brianna Greenlaw each stole a base.
GAME 2:
Olivia Hitchens started the second game as well, but she only threw the first inning before giving way to Karen Sickle for the final six frames. Sickle allowed four hits and four walks with a lone strikeout, but managed to strand everyone she allowed on base to preserve the shutout.
The offense chipped away at the Rams' pitching, starting with the second time through the order, as they scored a single run on six different plays to build a lead.
The Wildcats first broke through on offense in the third, with Caroline Scott bringing home Jaydyn Beall on an RBI triple. Alexa Eisemann then brought Scott home on a sac bunt groundout, making it 2-0 Wilmington.
The Wildcats got their third run in the fourth, which came across when the Rams threw a ball into right field on a bunt by Kylie Saienni, scoring Hailey Trapani. Fifth inning RBI singles by Mia Keenan and Saienni, as well as a groundout by Trapani, made it 6-0 Wilmington, and Sickle held the score there for the rest of the ballgame.
Scott, Eisemann, Keenan, Trapani, and Saienni all had an RBI in the game, while Eisemann and Angelina Edwards each went 2-3. Scott's triple was the only extra-base hit all afternoon for the Wildcats.
UP NEXT:
Wilmington's right back at it on Wednesday, as they head back to Pennsylvania for an out-of-conference doubleheader at Kutztown. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.