Seeing Double: Extra Base Hits Lead Wildcats to 18-2 and 10-4 CACC Sweep of Felician

Photo of Kiersten Comer who had one of the Wildcats' 12 doubles against Felician on Thursday. She had three RBI in game two. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. March 31, 2022 vs. Felician.
Photo of Kiersten Comer who had one of the Wildcats' 12 doubles against Felician on Thursday. She had three RBI in game two. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. March 31, 2022 vs. Felician.

Video Recap at Bottom of Page

NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Thirty hits and 28 runs highlighted the Wilmington University softball team's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep of Felician, winning the opener 18-2 before finishing off the sweep with a 10-4 win in the nightcap at Asbury Field on Thursday.

Of the 30 hits combined in the two games, 13 went for extra-base hits, including the second-most in a game in program history, as the Wildcats had 10 doubles in game one.

GAME 1:

A 10-run third inning broke the game wide open, as the Wildcats (12-10, 4-0 CACC) hit eight of their 10 doubles in the third inning.  Taylor Gillis and Haley Downin tied the program record by each hitting three doubles in the game. It is the seventh and eighth time in program history a Wildcat collected three doubles in a game, but the first since Jillian Stafford against Florida Southern in 2013.

With two outs and the bases empty in the second, Tristyn Stewart sparked a rally with a bunt single. Courtney Dellinger placed one in front of the centerfielder for an RBI and then Taylor Gillis hit her first double of the game to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

Felician cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third, but the Wildcats answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning.

Haley Downin hit the first double of the inning to put runners on second and third with no outs. Sara Miller started the scoring with a two-run single up the middle and then Gabbie Saucedo and Adriana Bueno hit back-to-back doubles to make it 7-2. Taylor Gillis doubled in Courtney Delinnger and then there were three straight doubles with three outs to end the rally. Haley Downin hit her second double of the inning before Sara Miller followed with a two-run double. Gabbie Saucedo doubled again to cap the scoring and the Wildcats were leading 13-2 after the third.

Another five runs came across in the fourth for the Wildcats, as Gillis and Downin doubled again in the inning. Taylor Gillis, Lauren Lopez, Sara Miller, and Gabbie Saucedo all had RBIs in the inning to put the Wildcats up 18-2.

Kylee Gunkel pitched all five innings, striking out a season best eight batters while only allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.

GAME 2:

After Felician came out and scored four runs in the top of the fourth to lead, 4-1, the Wildcats fought back with nine runs over their next three at-bats to pick up the sweep.

Kiersten Comer tied the game, 4-4, with a two-out, two-run double to left center in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Lauren Lopez singled through the left side, plating two and the Wildcats never looked back. The Wildcats scored on a wild pitch, a Saucedo ground out, and another Kiersten Comer RBI single as they took a 9-4 lead after the fourth inning.

Kylee Gunkel came on in relief with one out in the fourth inning and induced a foul out and struck out a batter to end the inning. And then Lauren Lopez singled to give the Wildcats the lead, giving Gunkel her second win of the day. Gunkel finished the final 3.2 innings, striking out six more while only allowing three hits.

Kiersten Comer collected three RBI in the game while Lauren Lopez went 3-for-4 with two RBI.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats step outside the CACC for their next two doubleheaders, first by welcoming Molloy to Asbury Field on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.