NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team couldn't complete the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep of Holy Family, as the Tigers came back in game two for the split on Wednesday afternoon at Asbury Field.
Olivia Hitchens tossed her fourth complete game shutout of the season in the opener, as the Wildcats scored six runs in the bottom of the third before winning 8-0 in five innings. Holy Family then answered with a four-run top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead in game two, holding on for the split.
GAME 1:
Following a scoreless two innings in the opener, the offense came to life with five runs on three hits and two hit by pitches.
Haley Grygo started the rally with a double, putting runners on second and third. Addison Sabo singled in the first run and then the bunts came. Maddie Vollmar and Gabriella Saucedo bunted in runs while also each reaching base. Brianna Greenlaw worked a walk with the bases loaded and then Cassidy Zelano hit a sacrifice fly for the 5-0 lead. Mia Lane snuck home on a first and third play, capping the inning with the 6-0 lead.
Hitchens allowed a single and a double in the fourth but induced an infield popup and a liner to second to escape the jam.
Maddie Vollmar tripled in a run in the fourth and then another Saucedo bunt RBI made it an 8-0 game with the mercy rule in effect.
Olivia Hitchens then went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, recording her fourth complete game shutout of the season. She is now 8-4 on the season after only allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three.
Haley Grygo and Addison Sabo each went 3-for-3 while Gabriella Saucedo had two hits and two RBI.
GAME 2:
The nightcap was a flip of the script between the two teams, as it was Holy Family that used one big inning to take control of the contest.
Holy Family scored an unearned run in the top of the first, but the Wildcats took the lead with single runs in the second and third innings. Maddie Vollmar started the second inning with a double down the left field line. Gabriella Saucedo then lined a pitch back up the middle, allowing Vollmar to score the tying run.
The Wildcats put runners on second and third with only one out in the third, but they were only able to score one run on a squeeze bunt, taking a 2-1 lead. The Tigers picked up a strikeout and a grounder back to the circle to escape further damage.
Holy Family struck in the top of the fifth inning, turning the game around. With two outs and a runner on second, the Tigers came up with a game-tying single, a walk, and then a two-run single to take the lead. They scored four runs on four hits in the inning, taking a 5-2 lead.
Cassidy Zelano singled to start the seventh, but she was left at third as the game ended.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats travel to CACC leading Caldwell on Saturday and then return home to take on Post on Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader in Caldwell, New Jersey, is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.