MELBOURNE, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team split a doubleheader with Florida Tech on Tuesday, winning the opener, 2-1, before falling in the nightcap, 9-1, in six innings at Nancy Bottge Field.
GAME 1:
It was a two-run sixth inning that proved to be the difference, as Kylee Gunkel tossed a complete game, four-hitter to improve to 3-2 on the year.
The Wildcats had a chance to score in the top of the second, putting runners on second and third with no outs. But the Panthers (12-9) got two strikeouts and a pop up to escape the jam unscathed.
Kylee Gunkel was cruising through the Panther lineup until a brief snag in the fourth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, the Panthers hit back-to-back doubles to take the 1-0 lead. She held the Panthers down after that, allowing the bats to awaken in the sixth.
An error, single, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with only one out. Sam Freeland then grounded out to first to bring in the first run and tie the game, and then Sara Miller singled into center field to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Gunkel then set the Panthers down in order in the sixth and worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh, leaving the tying run on second to end the game.
Taylor Gillis, Sam Freeland, and Sara Miller had the three hits for the Wildcats while Gillis and Cassidy Zelano scored runs.
GAME 2:
It looked as though the bats were going to break out in game two, but that was quickly halted before the Panthers ran away with the nightcap to earn the sweep.
With one out, Lexi Moore singled and stole second, and then scored the game's first run when Sam Freeland singled back up the middle. But that's all the Wildcats could get as the inning stalled.
The Panthers answered right back with five hits in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs to take the lead.
The Wildcats put runners on second and third with one out in the second, but the inning stalled again as the Panthers got out of the jam unscathed. The Panthers were able to come up with the two-out hits in the second inning, scoring three more runs on a two-run double and an error.
A three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning brought the mercy-rule into effect, as the Panthers won, 9-1.
Lexi Moore went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored while Sam Freeland and Bri Coyle added the other singles. Delani Sheehan took the loss before Haley Downin tossed the final 4.2 innings in relief.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats face two more opponents in Florida, starting with the 4th ranked Tampa Spartans on Thursday. The doubleheader starts at 12:00 p.m.
