Wilmington Softball Takes CACC Tournament Opener, 1-0; Leads Bloomfield, 9-5, in Sixth Inning as Rain Halts Finish

Wilmington Softball Takes CACC Tournament Opener, 1-0; Leads Bloomfield, 9-5, in Sixth Inning as Rain Halts Finish

Video Recap at bottom of page.

Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Danielle Bradley pitching against Concordia. 

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University softball team is in good position after day one at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament, winning the opener, 1-0, against Concordia before leading Bloomfield, 9-5, in the bottom of the sixth as the game was called due to rain at Georgian Court University.

The Wildcats (28-21) leaned on the right arm of sophomore Danielle Bradley in the opener, as she only allowed three hits in the complete game shutout to open the CACC Tournament.

The only offense Bradley needed was a solo shot off junior Meghan Brown in the top of the fifth. The offense only collected four hits in the game, but it only needed Brown's second home run of the season to get into the winner's bracket.

The Wildcats had other opportunities early in the game, stranding two runners in scoring position in the second, one in the third, and one more in the fourth. Brown then led off the bottom of the fifth inning with her shot down the left field line.

The only real danger Bradley was in came in the top of the seventh inning, as an error with two outs kept the game alive. Bradley then allowed a single to left to put the game-tying run on second base. Bradley then induced a comebacker to the circle for the final out of the game.

The bats came alive in the nightcap as they opened a 4-1 lead after the first inning. After falling behind 1-0 on a solo shot, the Wildcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, capped by a two-run shot to center field by Becca Stanley.

The Bears rallied in the third to tie the game, getting a bases loaded, two-run single followed by an error on the throw. The Bears were able to take the lead in fifth, scoring an unearned earn on a wild pitch, 5-4.

The lead didn't last long for the Bears, as the Wildcats bounced right back in the home half of the fifth. Brown, Llamas, and Cambria Ziemba all started the inning with walks. Taylor Rizzotte slid a full count pitch through the right side, tying the game as Brown scored, but Llamas was thrown out at the plate for the first out.

Bradley gave the Wildcats the lead in a big way, launching a three-run homer to left field for the Wildcats' third homer of the day.

The rains started to come back as the Wildcats took the lead in the fifth, and the offense took advantage again in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch to make it 9-5.

The game was postponed with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Wildcats had a runner on third base. The game will pick up with Bradley at the plate with a 2-0 count.

Rizzotte was the only Wildcat to pick up two hits against Bloomfield as Brooklyn Lachette is back in the circle hoping to close out the victory.

The game will resume at 9:00 a.m. on Field 2, with the winner advancing to face Holy Family in the winner bracket game at 1:00 p.m.