ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University softball team scored late in the game in both ends of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Dominican, earning a sweep, 4-1 and 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the DC Softball Field.
The Wildcats (23-12, 11-4 CACC) struck first in even contest, but it came down to the final three at-bats in each game and the visitors pulled out the close victories.
Game One:
The ball landed over the fence four times in the opener, accounting for the only scoring of the contest. Good thing for the Wildcats, three of the blasts came off the Wilmington bats as they rode the arm of Makayla McCarthy to a 4-1 win.
The pitcher gave herself a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, hitting a leadoff homer to left field for her first collegiate career home run. But the Chargers (14-12, 11-5 CACC) wasted little time in answering, as Taylor Daniels hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second to quickly tie the game, 1-1.
McCarthy only allowed one hit in the third and fourth innings, waiting for the offense to come back around. Lexi Baughman walked to start the top of the fifth inning and Rosa'Lynn Burton brought Baughman and herself all the way around with a two-run homer to center field to put the Wildcats back on top, 3-1.
The Chargers were unable to retaliate in the bottom of the fifth inning this time around as McCarthy went 1-2-3 with two strikeouts to hold the lead. The Chargers got a leadoff double in the sixth, but she was left at third as McCarthy picked up another strikeout to end the frame.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, this time off the bat of Lexi Baughman as she led off the inning with a solo jack to center field for the 4-1 lead. McCarthy closed out the victory with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.
McCarthy improved to 10-7 with a complete game three-hitter, striking out 10 batters while only allowing two walks. Burton went 3-for-4 with two RBI while five other Wildcats had one hit each.
Game Two:
The Wildcats struck early again in the nightcap, but needed a seventh inning run to secure the 3-2 win and the sweep.
Rosa'Lynn Burton started the game off with a single up the middle, setting the wheels in motion yet again. With two stolen bases, Burton was standing on third, and eventually came home on Lauren Lopez reached on an error with two outs, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The home run bug hit the Wildcats again in the second, as the Charger tied the game with a solo jack off starter Caitlyn Whiteside.
The Wildcats answered in the top of the third, however, as the top of the order produced again. Alyssa Velasquez stood at first with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Annie Davila singled into right field and Velasquez was waved around to put the Wildcats in front, 2-1.
Whiteside only allowed one hit in the third, fourth, and fifth innings combined before the Chargers were able to knot the game in the bottom of the sixth. A leadoff single and sacrifice bunt where the runner took two bags set up a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2.
A two-out rally in the top of the seventh turned the game towards the Wildcats once again. Jazmeen Llamas hit a two-out double to right center and Alyssa Velasquez knocked her in with a two-out single to center for the 3-2 lead.
Whiteside then picked up a ground out, a strikeout, and a fly out in a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the sweep.
Whiteside moved to 12-5 on the year with the complete game victory, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three. Burton batted 3-for-4 with a run scored when Llamas went 2-for-3 with a double. Velasquez, Davila, and Lopez each collected one hit apiece.
Up Next:
Sunday's scheduled doubleheader against Concordia has been rescheduled once again, due to the rain that is expected to hit the are starting later tonight. The doubleheader is rescheduled for Monday, April 30 at 2:30 at Asbury Field. The Wildcats will now play again on Tuesday afternoon at Jefferson. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.