CLERMONT, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team finally got on the diamond during Spring Break, splitting Tuesdays contests at Hancock Park, defeating nationally ranked No. 6 West Virginia Wesleyan, 8-0, in five innings, but falling to Le Moyne, 2-0, in the nightcap.
The Wildcats (5-3) came out swinging in the opener, putting 10 hits on the board to defeat a nationally ranked team for the first time since the 2016 season. But the bats were silenced in the nightcap, as a two-run homer was all Le Moyne needed as the Wildcats only mustered two hits against the Dolphins (11-2).
Game One - #6 West Virginia Wesleyan
In the opener, the Wildcats jumped in front in the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits and aided by a Bobcat error. Jazmeen Llamas, Alyssa Velasquez, and Rosa'Lynn Burton started the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Kiana Broderson-Jones broke the ice with an RBI ground out before Lauren Lopez brought in the second run with a sacrifice fly. The throw back into the infield got away from the Bobcats, allowing Burton to race home for the 3-0 lead.
Another error in the fourth inning gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead before they finished off the game with a four-run fifth inning to induce the run-rule.
Burton sparked the inning with a solo homer to left center for her first round-tripper of the season. Lopez and Makayla McCarthy singled with one out before Mirabella Klebart loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Now with two outs, Lexi Baughman was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Pinch hitter Lacy Nealy ended the game with her first hit as a Wildcat, singling down the third base line to score two for the 8-0 lead.
Caitlyn Whiteside struck out five batters without issuing a walk to improve to 2-1 on the year. She only allowed one hit in the shortened victory, a two-out single in the fifth.
Burton went 3-for-3 with the home run and two runs scored. Keara McCarthy went 2-for-3 with a run scored to finish as the only other Wildcat with multiple hits.
Game Two – Le Moyne
Coming off the 10-hit game, the bats were slow to continue into the nightcap against Le Moyne.
Rosa'Lynn Burton started the top with an infield single in the top of the first inning, but Le Moyne pitcher Alexis Eastman buckled down and got out of the inning unscathed.
The Dolphins broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the third inning, as the frame started with a leadoff walk. With the leadoff runner on second, the Dolphins' third hitter Lauren Zazzaro homered to center field for the 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats put two runners on base in the fourth inning, but Eastman got out of the jam again to leave the Wildcats scoreless.
Burton again led off the sixth inning with a bunt single, and stood on second with no outs with a stolen base. But Eastman buckled down once again, getting the next three batters out, including two strikeouts, to strand Burton at second.
Burton was the only Wildcat with hits against Le Moyne, going 2-for-3 in the contest. Makayla McCarthy pitched the first three innings, striking out four batters while allowing two runs on two hits with two walks. Caitlyn Whiteside pitched the final three innings, striking out two batters while only allowing two hits.
Tomorrow
The Wildcats picked up two games on Wednesday to makeup for the cancelled games on Monday. They will play a doubleheader against Notre Dame College at Sleepy Hollow starting at 10:00 a.m.
