PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - Sophomore Caitlyn Whiteside and senior Brooklyn Lachette spun complete game shutouts to lead the Wilmington University softball team to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep, 8-0 and 7-0, at USciences on Thursday afternoon at McNeil Family Field.
With the sweep, the Wildcats secured a berth into the upcoming CACC Tournament with two games left in the regular season. Seeding is still to be determined for the Wildcats, as they are now 32-17 overall and 15-9 in the CACC. Their only doubleheader left is scheduled for Saturday afternoon against Nyack. The Wildcats are currently in fourth place in the CACC.
Thursday was a combination of great pitching and numerous hits, as the Wildcats collected 14 hits in game one and 12 hits in the nightcap.
Rosa'Lynn Burton started the game with a triple to center field the two batters in the Wildcats had a 1-0 lead as Alyssa Velasquez squeezed her home. Jazmeen Llamas knocked in Burton with the third inning with an RBI single before Meghan Brown started a three-run fourth off with a solo shot to left field. Burton added an RBI single while Llamas made it 5-0 with another RBI single.
Another three-run seventh capped the scoring for the Wildcats, as Whitney DeMora doubled to left center to score Kaitlyn Slater. Brown brought in Colby Wyatt with a sacrifice fly before Mirabella Klebart finished the scoring with a final RBI single for the 8-0 lead.
Whiteside tossed her 12th complete game shutout of the season only allowing six hits and one walk to improve to 16-7 on the season.
A five-run second inning sparked the Wildcats in the nightcap, as they led 6-0 after the first two innings. Burton was the catalyst again, going 4-for-4 in the nightcap and starting the game with a single and stolen base. DeMora slapped one to right to plate Burton and open the scoring, 1-0.
Burton then brought in two runs with a single in the second before Llamas hit an RBI groundout to plate the speedy Burton from second. Wyatt put the Wildcats ahead, 6-0, with a two-run triple to right center, plating both DeMora and Slater.
Game two starter Brooklyn Lachette kept the Devils (4-31, 4-20 CACC) off the board until the Wildcats capped the scoring in the top of the fifth. Burton started the inning with a one-out single and was standing on third following two stolen bases. Llamas then plated Burton with an RBI single to left for the 7-0 lead.
Lachette spun her second complete game shutout of the season striking out four batters while only allowing five hits to improve to 6-4 on the season.
Becca Stanley went 2-for-4 with a double in the opening game before batting 3-for-4 in the nightcap. Burton went 2-for-5 with a triple in the opener and 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored in the nightcap. Llamas batted 3-for-4 with two RBI in the opening game.
The Wildcats will honor their five seniors prior to their doubleheader against Nyack on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m. at Asbury Field.