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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - For the third year in a row, the Wilmington University softball team will compete in the East Super Regional best-of-three series, defeating No. 4 Assumption, 8-0, in six innings in the NCAA East Region 1 Tournament Final on Sunday morning at Asbury Field.
Needing only to win one game on Sunday, the Wildcats (43-14) wasted little time and were able to get it done in the opening game. With the win, the Wildcats will once again battle Adelphi in the East Super Regional, this time it will be at Asbury Field starting on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Delani Sheehan tossed a one-hit shutout, her second complete game shutout of the Regional Tournament. She struck out four while only allowing the one hit and one walk to improve to 18-7 on the season. Sheehan, Kylee Gunkel, and the defense didn't allow a run in three games in the Regional.
The offense gave Sheehan all she would need in the top of the first. Lexi Moore hit a one out single then stole second and was standing on third as the throw trickled into center field. Tristyn Stewart then chopped one to the right side, allowing Moore to score for the 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the third, but only scored one run in the inning on a Sara Miller sacrifice fly as the Wildcats led 2-0.
Julia Thuer won a long battle at the plate in the third inning, hitting a two-out RBI single into right to make it 3-0. Taylor Gillis and Lexi Moore singled to load the bases and then the Wildcats scored another run on a Tristyn Stewart walk, giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and Julie Thuer knocked in another with a hot shot liner off the glove of the shortstop. Taylor Gillis hit a sacrifice fly and an error brought in a third run in the inning, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Haley Downin singled in Sara Miller in the sixth to bring the mercy rule into effect.
Lexi Moore made a long throw from the hole in the fourth and then started a 6-4-3 double play in the fifth to aide Sheehan in the circle. Sheehan fielded a grounder back to the circle to end the game.
Moore went 3-for-4 while Gabriella Saucedo, Sam Freeland, and Julia Thuer all had two hits. Stewart and Thuer ended with two RBI each.
Adelphi took the 2022 best-of-three series in three games to advance to the National Tournament while the Wildcats defeated Adelphi in the 2023 best-of-three series to advance to Chattanooga. This year will be the rubber match between the two East Region powers starting on Tuesday, May 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Asbury Field.
