NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference preseason favorites Caldwell University came away with a doubleheader sweep over the Wilmington University softball team, 5-3 and 12-0, on Saturday afternoon at Asbury Field.
The Wildcats (11-10, 1-3 CACC) struggled to the bats going against Caldwell (8-7, 4-0 CACC), only collecting three hits in each game of the doubleheader. The Cougars came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first game before collecting a pair of six-run innings in the nightcap for the sweep.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats used three Caldwell errors to gain a 3-1 lead. Rosa'Lynn Burton started the inning by reaching on an error before Alyssa Velasquez put runners on first and third with a walk. Becca Stanley laid down a suicide squeeze to score the first run, and reached base on another Cougar mistake. Now with two outs, Meghan Brown doubled to the gap in left center to score two more, chasing both Velasquez and Stanley home for the 3-1 lead.
But Caldwell was able to answer right back in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs of their own with back-to-back doubles to tie the game, 3-3. The Cougars took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, using an error for the go-ahead run and added a sacrifice fly as an insurance run, 5-3.
The Wildcats attempted a rally in the seventh as Kaitlyn Slater started the inning with a single through the left side. But Brown lined into a double play in the next at bat to clear the bases. Whitney DeMora doubled to the gap in right center, but she was left stranded as Caldwell picked up the final out to end the game.
Caldwell's starter Sydney Ponto struck out seven while allowing three unearned runs on three hits and one walk.
Brown picked up the Wildcats' first hit of the second game with another double in the second inning, but she was left stranded to end the frame. Things unraveled for the Wildcats from there, as the Cougars scored six runs on five hits for the 6-0 lead.
Caldwell had another six-run inning in the fifth, chasing starter Danielle Bradley and getting seven hits in the inning to move ahead 12-0. The Wildcats went in order in the bottom of the fifth to end the contest.
Caldwell's starter Jessie Johnston gave up three hits while striking out one for the complete game shutout.
The Wildcats return to action on Sunday when they head to LIU Post for a nonconference action on Long Island. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
