Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern MaryKate Rumbaugh
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – No. 1 Georgian Court's defense played a big role against No. 2 Wilmington University softball to take a 4-2 win in the winner's bracket round of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon at SEI investments Field.
With the loss, the Wildcats (36-13) will play in the CACC Elimination game against No. 8 Jefferson. The winner will then advance to the CACC Championship game against Georgian Court.
Georgian Court started out fast in the bottom of the first, as they put the first two batters on base. They would plate the first two runs of the game on a double, before getting one more on a single to right center to take a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the second.
Annie Davila would get things started in the second with a single to center, before Makayla McCarthy and Lexi Baughman hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. With the bases still loaded, Rosa'Lynn Burton would reach on a fielding error to score McCarthy and give the Wildcats their first run of the game, but that is all they would get in the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions would plate another run on a Wildcat error to take a 4-1 lead.
Makayla McCarthy would have an opportunity in the top of the fourth with a well hit ball out to deep center, but would be snagged by the center fielder with her back on the fence and her glove over the fence for the second out. The Wildcats would have another chance in the top of the fifth but would leave the bases loaded.
Going into their final at bats, Courtney Dellinger would try and start a rally with a leadoff walk, for Rosa'Lynn Burton to advance her on a sacrifice bunt. Kiana Broderson-Jones would then double to center to bring home Dellinger to make it 4-2 ball game. Alyssa Velasquez would keep it going with a single to left, which would cause the Lions into a pitching change. Georgian Court would then get two straight outs to end the inning, leaving the tying run on second base.
Kiana Broderson Jones (one RBI), Alyssa Velasquez, and Annie Davila all went 2-for-4 in the game. Makayla McCarthy, Lexi Baughman, and Jazmeen Llamas all had one hit for the Wildcats. The Wildcats left 10 runners on base in the loss.
Cailyn Whiteside went 6.0 IP in relief, allowing one run with six strikeouts.
