SAINT LEO, Fla. – A combined 16 runners left on base hurt the Wilmington University softball team as they fell to No. 15 Saint Leo, 11-0 and 2-0 Wednesday night at University Softball.
Game One:
A seven-run second inning from the Lions (17-6) opened the door for the early lead against the Wildcats (0-8). With two outs in the bottom of the second, Saint Leo plated seven runs across, which included a three-run homerun that gave them a 4-0 lead. The Lions then had four consecutive hits that scored three more runs to give them the 7-0 lead heading into the top of the third.
Wilmington had a chance in the top of the third, getting runners in scoring position, as Sara Miller singled, before Rosa'Lynn Burton bunted her to third, but the Wildcats could not follow through.
The Wildcats would get two quick outs after putting the lead off runner on, but the Lions' bats came alive to score four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 11-0 lead and force the Wildcats into their final chance in the top of the fifth.
Sara Miller, Rosa'Lynn Burton, Annie Davila, and Courtney Dellinger each had one hit for the Wildcats. Molly Dill fell to 0-1, going 1.2 innings pitched, allowing eight hits, and seven runs. Alexandra Ballester would go 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, and four runs.
Game Two:
The Wildcats would have several opportunities with runners in scoring position, but could not convert a run, leaving 12 runners on base in game two.
The Wildcats would get two quick outs again in the bottom of the second inning, but the Lions were able to put runners in scoring position, before a double plated the only two runs of the game.
Sophomore Kiersten Comer would get the top of the third inning going for the Wildcats with a lead-off single to left, before Rosa'Lynn Burton and Kiana Broderson-Jones loaded the bases. WilmU would have their first chance with runners in scoring position with only one out, but the Lions defense was able to get back-to-back outs to end the inning, stranding the runners on base.
In the top of the fifth inning, Courtney Dellinger got WilmU started with a single up the middle, before Burton and Broderson-Jones loaded the bases again, but this time with no outs. No. 15 Saint Leo did not panic, as the Lions defense made three straight outs to retire the Wildcats and leave the bases loaded again.
The Wildcats would have their final chance in the top of the seventh, as Sara Miller and Annie Davila got on base with only one out. Junior Isabel Collins would keep the inning alive with two outs on a single to left, before advancing to second to put her and Davila in scoring position, but the Wildcats would go down looking to end the contest.
Courtney Dellinger and Kiersten Comer would both go two-for-three in the game, as Rosa'Lynn Burton, Kiana Broderson-Jones, Lauren Lopez, and Isabel Collins each had one hit. Haley Downin would go 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits, and two runs, with one walk and one strikeout to fall to 0-4 this season.
Next Up:
The Wildcats will have an off day tomorrow, before returning to the diamond on Friday evening when they travel to Florida Tech for their final contests in Florida. Game one is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.