Softball Sweeps USciences With Back-to-Back Shutouts, 3-0, and 8-0

Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Kiana Broderson-Jones who went 1-for-4 with a two-run triple in game one, and 4-for-4 with a triple in game two at USciences. Photo by Katlynne Tubo.
Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Kiana Broderson-Jones who went 1-for-4 with a two-run triple in game one, and 4-for-4 with a triple in game two at USciences. Photo by Katlynne Tubo.

Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern MaryKate Rumbaugh

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Wilmington University softball team combined for 17 hits in their doubleheader sweep against USciences, taking the first game, 3-0, before winning the second game in six innings, 8-0 on Wednesday afternoon at FDR Park.

Game One:

Sophomore Makayla McCarthy would tie her single game record of strikeouts with 14 in the 3-0 shutout over USciences in game one Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams had chances in the first few innings of the contest, but no run would be scored until the top of the sixth inning in favor of the Wildcats (26-10, 14-2 CACC). Lauren Lopez got things started in the inning with a one-out double, before Annie Davila hit a single to center, scoring Lopez and breaking the scoreless drought of the game.

Looking for some insurance in the top of the seventh, Lexi Baughman and Courtney Dellinger both got on for WilmU with two outs to bring up Kiana Broderson-Jones. Broderson-Jones then tripled to center field to bring in both runs and giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead heading into the Devils' final at bats.

McCarthy would allow five hits and two walks in the contest, but her 14 strikeouts would hold off the Devils' chances of scoring. She would strikeout at least two of the three batters in each inning, except for in the fifth inning, striking out just one.

Kiana Broderson-Jones had two hits and one RBI, as Annie Davlia went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Angela Antonini and Lexi Baughman had one hit, as well.

Game Two:

Getting the start again in game two, Makayla McCarthy would go 6.0 IP, allowing only two hits, and six strikeouts for her second shutout of the day.

Wilmington got on the board quick in the second game, scoring the first run off a Devils' error in the first inning. With two outs in the top of the second, Courtney Dellinger and Jazmeen Llamas got on with back-to-back singles to bring up Kiana Broderson-Jones again. This time, Broderson-Jones singled to the second baseman, scoring Dellinger and Llamas to give WilmU a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Broderson-Jones came through with her second triple of the day to score Dellinger, before Alyssa Velasquez would bring her home with a sacrifice fly out to left center.

The fourth inning would be another big inning for the Wildcats as Wilmington had three runs on four hits, including Alyssa Velasquez' single to center that scored two, putting the Wildcats in front, 7-0.

Kiana Broderson-Jones went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, as Courtney Dellinger and Jazmeen Llamas went 2-for-3 in the game. Alyssa Velasquez had one hit and three RBI, as Lauren Lopez added her 46th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning.

Next Up:

The Wildcats are back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon, as they host Dominican in a makeup game from March 23 at Asbury Field. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:30 p.m.