Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - - The Wilmington University softball team lost early leads in both games at Kutztown on Wednesday, dropping the first, 4-1, and the second, 8-7, in mid-week non-conference action.

The Wildcats scored a run in the first inning of Game 1, but were blanked over the following six frames while the Golden Bears scored a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth. They then built a seven-run lead in Game 2 with a four-run second and three-run third, but the lead evaporated after Kutztown posted three and four-run innings of their own before walking it off with two outs in the seventh.

GAME 1:
Jadyn Beall's leadoff single sparked the Wilmington offense early, with the Wildcat second baseman coming around to score when Mia Lane reached on a fielding error with two outs following a 15-pitch at-bat.

The Wildcats struggled from there, however, making 12 straight outs following Lane's plate appearance. Mia Keenan finally broke the drought with a two-out single in the fifth, but by that point, Wilmington found itself trailing 2-1 after Kutztown hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, with one of those runs only scoring because of a throwing error on the play. After Keenan's single, Kylie Saienni doubled to left to put two in scoring position, but Beall struck out looking to end the threat.

Kutztown picked up another two runs in the bottom of the fifth, both unearned, and Wilmington's comeback attempt fell short in the seventh as they hit into a game-ending double play with two runners on to settle the final score at 4-1.

Xenidis was handed the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits over five innings of work, also striking out two. Maddie Vollmar pitched the sixth and recorded a strikeout.

Saienni's double was the Wildcats' only extra base hit, with Wilmington's five hits dispersed to five different hitters.

GAME 2:
Wilmington again got on the board first in Game 2, with Rylee Maloney getting things started on an RBI bunt single in the second. Three more runs scored in the inning, all on errors, putting the Wildcats up 4-0.

Mia Lane kept the scoring going in the top of the third, leading the inning off with a homer to left. Maloney later scored on a wild pitch, and then Angelina Edwards scored Wilmington's seventh run after Addison Sabo singled to second base, making it 7-0 Wildcats.

Kutztown didn't back down, however, leading off the bottom of the third with a triple. The next Golden Bear singled to bring her in, and then a one-out sac fly and a two-out RBI single brought the home team to within four at 7-3.

The Golden Bears then posted a four-spot of their own in the bottom of the fourth, starting with a fielder's choice back to the pitcher and followed by an RBI groundout and a two-run single down the left field line.

Both teams went out scoreless in the fifth and sixth, and after the Wildcats went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Kutztown led off the seventh with a single, moved the runner with a sac bunt, flied out to center to move her to third, and then finally hit a walk-off two-out RBI single to right center.

Olivia Hitchens took the loss after giving up the final run. She pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Maddie Vollmar threw the first three innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.

Gabriella Saucedo and Angelina Edwards each hit doubles, while Lane hit popped the only home run of the afternoon for Wilmington. Lane and Saucedo each went 2-4 in the game, while Lane, Maloney, and Sabo were the only Wildcats to record an RBI.

UP NEXT:
Wilmington will have the weekend off before welcoming Jefferson to town next Tuesday at 2:30 pm, where they'll play the Rams for the second time in a week. That doubleheader will be a non-conference matchup, however, so the Wildcats will have to wait till Wednesday against Holy Family for another crack at improving their CACC record.