WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - - Lexi Moore hit an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off against Davenport as the Wilmington University softball team split the afternoon, falling to Pittsburgh State in the nightcap on Thursday in Florida.
GAME 1:
Haley Downin was doing it all for the Wildcats in the opener, pitching a complete game and batting 2-for-3 with a run scored. But the Wildcats needed a run in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.
Davenport started the scoring with a run in the top of the fourth, as the number three hitter launched a leadoff home run for the 1-0 lead.
But the Wildcats immediately answered in the bottom of the fourth as back-to-back doubles by Downin and Sara Miller to start the inning tied the game, 1-1. Now with a runner on third, Gabbie Saucedo singled through the left side to make it a 2-1 game.
Downin worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the fifth, getting a line drive double play to end the inning.
The Panthers were able to tie the game in the top of the sixth however, picking up a two-out RBI. Downin escaped earlier damage but picking up an inning ending strikeout.
After a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning, a couple of Panther errors put Wildcats on first and second with one out. Taylor Gillis beat out an infield single to load the bases and then Lexi Moore singled through the left side to score Adriana Bueno and win the game, 3-2.
Bueno went 2-for-2 with a double while Downin went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Downin picked up her first win of the season, striking out six batters.
GAME 2:
A seventh inning comeback fell short for the Wildcats, as the Gorillas held off the Wildcats for the 8-6 victory.
Pittsburgh State scored single runs in each of the first two innings before the Wildcats tied the game in the top of the fourth.
A couple of errors put runners on second and third and Isabella Eleazar put the Wildcats on the board with a squeeze bunt. Now with two outs, Emma Zimmerman singled through the left side to score Gabbie Saucedo to tie the game, 2-2.
But the Gorillas regained the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a two-out error, 3-2.
Two more home runs in the fifth inning extended the Gorillas' lead to 6-2 and then two RBI doubles in the sixth put Pittsburgh State up, 8-2.
The Wildcats showed life in the top of the seventh scoring four runs all with two outs. Haley Downin started the scoring with an RBI single and then Megan Sterling doubled to center to make it 8-4. Danielle Hess added a two-run infield single as well, bringing the tying run to the plate, 8-6. But the Gorillas were able to get the final out on a grounder, 8-6.
Emma Zimmerman went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Lexi Moore finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kyle Gunkel fell to 1-4 with the loss.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats wrap up their trip to Florida on Friday with games against Winona State and Missouri-St. Louis. The first game is scheduled for a 12:15 first pitch.