NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The top two teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Standings squared off on Tuesday and produced two postseason-like performances, with the Wilmington University softball team winning game one, 4-3, in 11 innings before Caldwell won game two, 4-2, at Asbury Field.

The CACC split keeps the Wildcats in first place by a half game with a 14-2 conference record. Caldwell is now 13-2 in CACC play, with one game unfinished.

GAME 1:

Brooke Koehler came on in relief to start the third inning and never left the circle, not allowing a run until the international tiebreaker began in the ninth inning.

Caldwell took the lead in the top of the second inning, scoring one run on back-to-back singles. But Delanie Sheehan worked out of the bases loaded jam by inducing a ground ball double play to end the inning.

A leadoff error put Tristyn Stewart on the bases in the bottom of the third inning. She stole second and was standing on third after a sacrifice bunt. She tied the game but scoring on a wild pitch, 1-1.

The Wildcats left two runners on in the fourth and sixth inning, struggling to find the key base hit.

The game worked its way into the international tie-breaker rule in the ninth inning and the Cougars quickly struck with an RBI double. But that's all they would get as a line drive double play ended the inning. Back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases for the Wildcats in the bottom of the ninth. Now with two outs, Tristyn Stewart worked a walk, tying the game, 2-2.

A two-out double to the base of the wall in left center gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead in the 10^th, but the Wildcats answered yet again in the home half. Lexi Moore put down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first from the pitcher was air-mailed, allowing Taylor Gillis to score and Moore reach third. Caldwell put the next two batters on base to set up the force, which worked to perfection as Gabbie Saucedo grounded into a double play. Haley Downin then grounded out to send the game into the 11^th.

Working in her ninth inning of relief, Brooke Koehler set the Cougars down in order in the 11^th, leaving the runner at second. Isabell Eleazar put down a bunt to put runners on second and third, and then Taylor Gillis singled back up the middle to plate Haley Downin with two outs for the walk-off win, 4-3.

GAME 2:

After it took 11 innings for a team to score four runs, Caldwell came out of the gates in game two to score four runs in the top of the first. All six runs in the game were scored in the first inning.

It all started with two outs and the bases empty for the Cougars in the top of the first, as they then came away with five straight hits, including a two-run triple and back-to-back RBI singles for the quick 4-0 lead.

Taylor Gillis started the bottom of the first with a single and stolen base, and then Lexi Moore put the Wildcats on the board with an RBI single. Gabriella Saucedo then plated Moore with a squeeze bunt, closing the gap to 4-2.

That would end up being all the scoring either team would come across in the game as Caldwell starter Hayley Daly and WilmU reliever Delani Sheehan settled in.

The Wildcats' best opportunity came in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Emma Zimmerman singled with one out to start a rally. Tristyn Stewart singled and then Lexi Moor hit an infield single to short to load the bases with two outs. But Jess Reed grounded out to short to end the game, leaving the tying and winning runs on base.

Lexi Moore went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the loss. Delani Sheehan went four inning and only allowed one hit while striking out three.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats take a trip north this weekend, as they first play Bloomfield in New Jersey on Saturday. The team will then keep going north to play at Post on Sunday in a makeup doubleheader.