BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University softball team moved into third place in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with a sweep of Concordia, 5-3 and 6-4, on Saturday afternoon at Kathy Laoutaris Field.
The Wildcats are now 18-14 overall and 18-8 in CACC play, wrapping up the regular season.
GAME 1:
It was the Annie Davila show in the opener, as she went 3-for-4 by smashing two homers and accounting for all five RBI.
Renamarie Rocha picked up her first collegiate career win in the circle, throwing five innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. Alexandra Ballester came on and tossed the final two innings, earning her second save of the season.
Davila got it going early, converting with a two-out RBI in the bottom of the first. With two on and two outs, she singled through the left side to put the Wildcats up, 1-0.
The Clippers (10-12, 10-12 CACC) tied the game in the bottom of the second but then Davila put the Wildcats back in front in the top of the third. Again with two outs, Davila tied the single season program record with her ninth homer to center, plating Isabella Eleazar for the 3-1 lead.
Now in the top of the fifth, Davila broke the single season program record with her 10th homer of the season, hitting another two-run homer to left for the 5-1 lead.
Renamarie Rocha left two runners on in the top of the fifth, getting a grounder to third to escape the jam. Alexandra Ballester came on in the sixth and the Clippers brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but she struck out the final batter to end the game, 5-3.
GAME 2:
Concordia came out and took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first but the Wildcats scored five runs in the next three innings to take command of game.
Down 1-0 in the top of the second, Sara Miller hit a solo homer to right, tying the game with her second homer of the year.
Danielle Hess started the top of the third off with a leadoff single, and she scored all the way from first on an Isabella Eleazar double. Now with two outs, Annie Davila stayed red hot and hit an RBI single for the 3-1 lead.
Starter Molly Dill set the Clippers down in order in the bottom of the third, bringing the offense back to the plate. Sara Miller walked and stole second and then Kiersten Comer doubled to left center to bring in the first run of the fourth. Then the Wildcats made it 5-1 in the fourth, scoring on an error.
Concordia made things interesting with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but they escaped with two runners on and still led, 5-4.
Kiersten Comer came through again for the Wildcats, adding an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Sara Miller hit a double to get things started and then Comer came through with a single, getting to second on an error by the left fielder and allowing Miller to score, 6-4.
Alexandra Ballester was pitching in her third inning in the seventh, and worked around a leadoff single, inducing a fly out and a grounder to second to end the game and giving the Wildcats the sweep, 6-4.
Kiersten led the team by going 2-for-3 with two RBI while Isabella Eleazar, Annie Davila, and Sara Miller all finished with two hits.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will wait for the conclusion of the rest of the CACC, but the Wildcats will advance to the CACC Tournament next week. If they stay in third place, they will receive a first round bye and not play until the Quarterfinals of the single elimination tournament on Friday, May 7.
Continue to check athletics.wilmu.edu for all the playoff updates.