WEST CHESTER, Pa. - - The Wilmington University softball team scored the final eight runs of the nightcap at West Chester, splitting the nonconference doubleheader, falling late in the opener, 8-7, before coming back and winning, 8-2, winning the season series, 3-1, on Tuesday.
GAME 1:
Trailing 6-0 after three innings, the Wildcats (15-11) fought back to eventually tie the game in the top of the sixth, 6-6. West Chester scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead and the Wildcats had the tying run on third base in the seventh but were unable tie the game.
West Chester scored their first run in the bottom of the first and then loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third. the Golden Rams hit a pair of doubles in the inning and led 6-0 after three.
The Wildcats fired right back with two in the top of the fourth, and they got RBI hits from Taylor Gillis, Lexi Moore, and Haley Downin in the fifth to come to within 6-5. Taylor Gillis then hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth, bringing the Wildcats all the way back to tie the game, 6-6.
But West Chester answered in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a passed ball and then an error, taking an 8-6 lead. Needing to respond, the Wildcats put runners on second and third with only one out. Kiersten Comer hit the ball on the screws, but right at the third baseman for the second out. Gabbie Saucedo scored on a wild pitch, as Isabella Eleazar moved up to third. But Eleazar was left at third as Tristyn Stewart grounded out to third.
Taylor Gillis and Gabbie Saucedo led the Wildcats with two hits each. Gillis finished with a team high two RBI.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats again found themselves down early in game two, but they battled back with a two-run third, a three-run fifth, and a three-run sixth to earn the split.
The Wildcats got on the board with a wild pitch in the third and then they tied the game on a first and third steal attempt, as Lexi Moore raced home, 2-2.
Starter Renamarie Rocha left two runners on in the third and got a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth to keep the game tied, 2-2.
Lexi Moore started the fifth with a single and then scored all the way from first on an error as Haley Downin tried to sacrifice her over. Three batters later, Kiersten Comer hit an RBI single and then Emma Zimmerman doubled down the left field line, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
With runners on first and third in the sixth, Lauren Lopez doubled to right center, easily scoring Gillis from third and Haley Downin from first for the 7-2 lead. Kiersten Comer followed with another RBI double capping the Wildcats scoring at 8-2.
Rocha stopped a two-out rally in the sixth with a grounder and then left two more on base in the seventh as the Golden Rams tried to mount a comeback. Rocha improved to 3-1 with the win, allowing two runs on 10 hits, striking out two batters.
Lauren Lopez and Kiersten Comer each finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Lexi Moore also had two hits and two runs scored for the Wildcats.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats turn right around and play on Wednesday, returning home to face USciences at Asbury Field. The CACC doubleheader begins at 2:30 p.m.