GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - - Two swings of the bat were all No. 24 Adelphi needed to win the 2017 NCAA Division II East Region I Tournament, defeating the Wilmington University softball team, 5-0, in the first game of the championship on Sunday afternoon at Ficke Field.
The loss ends a record-breaking season for the Wildcats, as they finished 36-21 overall and went deeper into the Regional Tournament than ever before. The 36 wins are a new single season program record.
Two long balls were more than enough for the Panthers (38-13-1) as they advance to the Super Regional series against Molloy next weekend. The Panthers hit a two-run home run to left in the top of the first and widened their margin to 5-0 with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth.
Whitney DeMora doubled down the right field line in the first, but she was left stranded as the inning ended. Meghan Brown walked in the second but she was also left stranded at second base as the inning came to a close.
Brown singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, but two ground ball outs only moved her to third. Adelphi starter Lindsay Mapes picked up a strikeout to end the inning, leaving Brown on third base.
The only other base runner for the Wildcats in the contest came in the bottom of the seventh, as Colby Wyatt reached on a one-out throwing error from third base. Pinch runner Keara McCarthy reached third, but Mapes again came up with a strikeout, this time ending the game.
Caitlyn Whiteside allowed five runs on five hits to fall to 19-11 on the season. Brooklyn Lachette came on and pitched the final two frames, not allowing a base runner.
Mapes improved to 18-5 on the season, striking out eight while only allowing two hits.
