Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Frank Stallworth.
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The bats carried the Wilmington University softball team to a doubleheader sweep over Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rival Georgian Court, 9-2 and 8-4, on Tuesday afternoon on GCU Field 1.
The Wildcats (14-12, 9-1 CACC) collected 14 hits in the opener before getting 11 more hits in the nightcap. The win was their eighth straight overall and sixth straight in CACC play.
The offense jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings in the opener, getting a bases loaded walk to break the ice. Cambria Ziemba then hit a sacrifice fly in the second before an error allowed a run to score and keep the inning alive. Kaitlyn slater followed up with a single up the middle, giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
The Lions (3-23, 2-6 CACC) answered back with two runs in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit in half. The CACC Rookie of the Week Caitlyn Whiteside came on to pitch for the Wildcats in the bottom of the third and kept the Lions off the board through the next three innings.
The offense came back to the plate in the top of the sixth and quickly loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Colby Wyatt singled into center field for the first run before Meghan Brown brought home two more with a single into left center.
Whiteside was able to escape a jam in the bottom of the sixth, stranding runners on second and third as the inning ended. Sarah Coyne added an insurance run on an RBI groundout before Slater homered to left for the seven-run lead. Whiteside then closed out the seventh for her third straight decision.
The offense got off to a fast start again in the nightcap, putting up six runs in the first two innings. Taylor Rizzotte knocked in Becca Stanley to start the scoring before Shannon Brantley launched one to right center for a two-run homer.
The Lions got to starter Brooke Lachette in the bottom of the first, scoring on a two-run double to bring the score to 3-2. The Wildcats loaded the bases in the top of the second, but needed a two-out double to left center to clear the bases and regain a 6-2 cushion.
The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Wildcats were able to add two more runs in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Stanley singled in Brown before Rizzotte capped the scoring with an RBI groundout.
After the Lions tacked on another run in the sixth, Danielle Bradley came on to pitch with one out in the inning and left two runners on to end the threat. Bradley then tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning for the doubleheader sweep.
Brantley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run in game one before batting 2-for-4 with a double and a homer in the nightcap. Brown went 3-for-3 with a run scored in the second game as well, adding to a 2-for-3 with two RBI performance in the first game.
Whiteside is now 4-3 with the game one win while Brantley improved to 3-0 with the win in the nightcap.
The Wildcats return home to play their next CACC doubleheader, as they welcome USciences on Thursday at Asbury Field. The first pitch of the opener is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.