MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - - The Wilmington University softball team began its northern portion of its 2022 schedule on Friday, splitting a doubleheader at Millersville by winning the opener, 4-3, before falling in the nightcap, 3-2, at Seaber Softball Stadium.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (4-8) got off to a fast start against the Marauders (9-11) in the opener, scoring three runs in the first two innings. But they needed a defensive stand in the late innings to earn the game-one victory.
Sara Miller started the game with a single and an error put Wildcats on first and third without an out. A first and third double steal put the Wildcats on the board in the top of the first inning before a one-out RBI single by Haley Downin saw the Wildcats go up 2-0 in the top of the first.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the top of the second with the short game, getting two bunt singles and a sacrifice bunt. Now with two outs and the bases loaded, Haley Downin worked a walk to force in a run and make it 3-0 in the second inning.
The Marauders answered in the bottom of the second, getting on the board with a one-out single, but Kylee Gunkel left two on to end the inning and keep the Wildcats ahead, 3-1.
Lauren Lopez gave the Wildcats an all-too-important insurance run in the top of the fourth inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Taylor Gillis while started the inning with a single up the middle.
That run proved to be the difference maker, as Millersville made it interesting late. They hit a solo homer in the fifth to make it 4-2, and then loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Renamarie Rocha came on and gave up a single up the middle, but then induced a pop up, a strikeout, and a fly ball to end the inning and leave the tying run 60-feet away at third base.
Rocha was then able to work around a leadoff walk and a one-out single to leave the tying run at second base in the seventh inning, inducing a grounder to second base to end the game, 4-3, and earn the save.
Haley Downin went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Taylor Gillis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Isabella Eleazer went 2-for-4 as well. Gunkel improved to 2-5 on the year after striking out seven and allowing two runs on three hits in five innings.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats again struck first in the top of the first inning, but they were unable to solve the game-two starter, Morgan Crutcher, as the Marauders earned the split, 3-2.
Taylor Gillis hit an infield single and stole second in the top of the first. Now with two outs, Lauren Lopez hit an RBI single into center to give the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead.
But Millersville answered right back in the bottom of the first, starting the inning with a single, a walk, and a three-run homer to left to lead, 3-1.
But then Renamarie Rocha settled in, setting the Marauders down in order in the second and third innings, leaving two on in the fourth, a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, and leaving a leadoff walk at first in the sixth.
But the office was stymied by starter Morgan Crutcher, never really threatening past the first inning.
With one out in the seventh inning, pinch hitter Arianna Millan hit a homer to center field to cut the deficit to 3-2, and put the tying run on base with two outs, but Crutcher induced a grounder to end the game, 3-2.
Taylor Gillis went 2-for-2 with a run scored in the game while Lauren Lopez and Arianna Millan added the only other hits. Renamarie Rocha struck out eight in her outing, but fell to 1-1 in the loss.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats host Adelphi on Sunday in the team's 2022 home opener at Asbury Field. the first pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m.