Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Becca Stanley against USciences, taken by Frank Stallworth.
NEWARK, Del. - - A two-run rally with one out in the top of the seventh inning in game two propelled the Wilmington University softball team to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep over crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom, 6-1 and 2-1, on Wednesday afternoon at the Jackson Complex.
When the Wildcats (23-15, 17-1 CACC) crossed the plate on Wednesday they scored in pairs, scoring two runs in three separate innings in game one before the seventh inning comeback in game two. The Lightning (7-25, 3-15 CACC) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth of game two to take the lead.
The long ball carried the Wildcats in the opener as Colby Wyatt hit a two-run shot in the third and Becca Stanley hit a solo shot in the fourth.
The Wildcats got off to a good start in the opener in a pair of runs in the first inning however, as Stanley started the game off with a double to left center. Now with runners on second and third, Danielle Bradley brought in the game's first run on an RBI groundout before Kaitlyn Slater doubled to left field to bring in Taylor Rizzotte.
The Lightning cut the deficit in half with an unearned run in the bottom of the second, but the Wildcats answered in the top of the third. Bradley single and stole second and Wyatt stepped in and jacked her third home run of the season to put the Wildcats up 4-1.
Stanley hit a one-out solo jack in the fourth for her team leading fourth homer of the year and Slater added another RBI with a single to right center to score Bradley.
Starting pitcher Brooklyn Lachette took care of the rest. She allowed a one-out single in the fourth before setting the Lightning down in order in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning. She improved to 5-6 on the year while striking out six and only giving up a walk and two hits.
Stanley finished a triple shy of the cycle in batting 3-for-4 while Rizzotte, Slater, and Wyatt each added two hits apiece.
The Lightning started the bottom of the fourth of game two with a double to left center off starter Caitlyn Whiteside. They then executed a squeeze play with runners on first and third to take a 1-0 lead.
Shannon Brantley came on to pitch in the fifth and stranded a pair on base before giving the ball back to Whiteside in the sixth with a runner on second with one out. Whiteside induced a grounder and a pop-up to get out of the jam.
The offense stranded nine runners on base in the nightcap, including two in the first, third, and sixth innings. But it was a one-out single to left by Stanley that sparked a seventh inning rally. After stealing second, Stanley tied the game as Rizzotte tripled to right field. Bradley followed with an RBI single to left center, putting the Wildcats ahead, 2-1.
Whiteside then set the Lightning down in order in the seventh to record the sweep.
The freshman improved to 9-4 on the year in pitching 5.2 combined innings, striking out three while only allowing three hits. Bradley batted 3-for-4 to lead the offense while Rizzotte and Meghan Brown added two hits each.
The busy week in the CACC continues on Thursday for the Wildcats, as they host Concordia for a doubleheader at Asbury Field. The first pitch of the double dip is set for 2:30 p.m.