Video Highlights at Bottom of Page
Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A couple of crooked numbers and strong pitching powered the Wilmington University softball team to a twinbill sweep of Jefferson on Tuesday, winning by final scores of 8-0 and 7-1 at Asbury Field.
The two teams met for the second time in a week, though Tuesday's contests didn't count towards the CACC standings after the Rams and Wildcats split in Philadelphia last Tuesday.
A six-run sixth lifted Wilmington to an 8-0 victory in Game 1, with Jaydyn Beall bringing home the game-ending run in the bottom of the sixth to give Olivia Hitchens the complete game shutout. Kasey Xenidis and Maddie Vollmar teamed up in Game 2 to allow just one unearned run, while the offense scored two in the second and four in the fifth to bury Jefferson.
The Rams scored just one run in 13 innings, only tallying four hits.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats got the scoring started similarly to how they did against Jefferson in Game 1 last week, plating a first-inning run on a bunt. Jaydyn Beall reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to start the game, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, then scored on a sac bunt by Haley Grygo.
The big inning for Wilmington was the second, where they scored six runs on six hits in the frame. Rylee Maloney reached on a fielder's choice that scored Mia Lane, but two batters later, Beall lined into a double play at third with the bases loaded to seemingly put a dent in Wilmington's ability to cause any more damage. Jess Reed followed up the double play with a single to reload the bases, however, and Haley Grygo laced a ball into left-center field for a bases-clearing triple. Maddie Vollmar then put an exclamation point on the inning, blasting a two-run homer to left.
The final run of the ballgame came across in the sixth, with Beall chopping a ball over the drawn-in infield to score Hailey Trapani from third and enforce the run-rule.
Olivia Hitchens had another stellar outing, pitching all six innings and only allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five. She's now lowered her season ERA to 3.72, the lowest qualified mark on the team and the eighth-lowest qualified mark in the conference.
Vollmar went 3-3 at the plate, finishing with a single, triple, and a home run to go with two RBI. Haley Grygo led the team with four RBI, three of which came on her second-inning triple. Beall and Maloney also had an RBI each.
GAME 2:
The nightcap was a more tightly contested game, with the two teams separated by just a run for most of the first four and a half innings.
The Wildcats struck first, taking advantage of a two-out Ram error that allowed Gabriella Saucedo to reach. After she stole second, Mia Lane walked, and then Addison Sabo doubled into the left-center gap to bring both runners home. The Rams responded with a run of their own, though theirs was also the result of a two-out fielding error that allowed the runner on third to score.
The score held at 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Wildcats loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Brianna Greenlaw pinch hit, and she drew a four-pitch walk to make it 3-1. Haley Grygo then lifted a sac fly to left to score Mia Keenan, and finally, Maddie Vollmar again delivered the big blow, this time lacing a double to left center that scored two more and made it 6-1.
Mia Lane scored an extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch, and then Vollmar slammed the door shut in the circle with a 1-2-3 seventh.
Kasey Xenidis threw the first three innings and allowed an unearned run on a hit and two walks. Vollmar covered the final four and picked up the win, posting the same stat line minus the run. Xenidis struck out one, and Vollmar struck out three.
Addison Sabo was the only Wildcat with multiple hits, going 2-3 with a double. Lane and Vollmar also hit doubles, while Vollmar and Sabo each had a pair of RBI. Beall and Saucedo each stole a base as well.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats are right back at it on Wednesday at Asbury Field, taking on the Tigers of Holy Family for a CACC matchup. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 2:30 p.m.
