NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with Chestnut Hill on Tuesday, winning game one, 6-1, before falling in the nightcap, 8-5, in eight innings at Asbury Field.
The Wildcats (5-3, 5-3 CACC) could not take advantage of five errors by the Griffins (1-11, 1-9 CACC) in game two. The Griffins scored three in the sixth and three in the eighth to come from behind to steal game two.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the opener, as the home team had runners on second and third and only one out in the first. An error brought in the first run, but then Alyssa Velasquez singled into left center, plating two for the 3-0 lead.
Annie Davila tied the all-time program record with her 16th homer in the bottom of the third, and Isabella Eleazar added two more with a two-out, two run single to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.
Molly Dill struck out three in the first three innings of work before Haley Downin came on and pitched the final four frames for the win. She struck out five while allowing one run on four hits and two walks.
Alyssa Velasquez led the team by going 2-for-2 with two RBI while Eleazar also knocked in two RBI for the game.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats once again jumped out to the early lead in game two, scoring twice in the second and one more in the third.
Annie Davila started the inning with a leadoff double and Alyssa Velasquez eventually knocked her in with an RBI ground out for the game's first run. Danielle Hess followed with a triple to the gap in right center, and the relay thrown got away from the third baseman in the process, trickling into the dugout to allow Hess to trot home for the 2-0 lead.
Sara Miller reached on an error to start the third and Lauren Lopez knocked her in with a single into center for the early 3-0 lead for the Wildcats. But the Wildcats left the bases loaded before being able to get any more runs in the inning.
The Griffins started the top of the fourth with four straight singles, getting on the board. After a strikeout, a walk forced in another run to close the gap to within 3-2.
It looked as Arianna Millan would give the insurance runs the Wildcats would need in the fifth, hitting a two-out, two-run double with the bases loaded.
But the Griffins answered in the top of the sixth, all with two outs and the bases empty. A double started the rally before three straight singles plated a run and had the bases loaded. Back-to-back walks tied the game at 5-5.
The Wildcats left runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, and two more in the seventh. The Wildcats put their first two runners on in the seventh, but a pop up, a strike out, and a grounder back to the circle ended any possibility of a walk-off in regulation.
The Griffins again attacked with four straight base hits in the top of the eighth, getting two singles, and a double to take the lead. A wild pitch and the fourth single made it 8-5 before the Wildcats recorded an out.
Renamarie Rocha started and returned in the circle, totaling six innings of work. Alexandra Ballester pitched two innings of relief as well. Velasquez collected two more hits in the game while Danielle Hess, Rocha, and Millan all led the way with two hits in the game.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats turn right around and travel to West Chester for their first nonconference doubleheader of the year on Wednesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.