CLERMONT, Fla. - - The Wilmington University softball team used strong pitching and two key innings to earn a Sunday sweep, defeating Grand Valley State, 2-0, and Saint Anselm, 5-1, at Legends Way as part of THE Spring Games in Florida.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (6-4) scored both runs in the bottom of the third inning and then rode the arm of Kylee Gunkel to a 2-0 shutout victory.
The Lakers (4-7) loaded the bases in the top of the first without recording an out, but Gunkel buckled down and picked up a strikeout, an infield fly, and a foul out to escape the jam unscathed. The Lakers also had two runners on with no outs in the third, but again Gunkel escaped unscathed.
Bella Barnes put the Wildcats on the board in the bottom of the third with a leadoff homer. Maddie Vollmar followed with a double and was standing on third with one out. Tristyn Stewart plated Vollmar with an RBI single and the Wildcats were leading 2-0.
Gunkel needed to get out of one more jam for the shutout, as the Lakers loaded the bases with two outs. But the senior picked up the complete game shutout with a liner to center for the final out.
Cassidy Zelano and Bella Barnes had two hits each, with Barnes hitting a homer and a double. Gunkel struck out seven batters in her first victory of the season.
GAME 2:
Delani Sheehan and Karen Sickle had another strong performance in the circle in the nightcap, defeating East Region foe Saint Anselm, 5-1. The offense scored four runs in the top of the seventh to break the tie and earn the victory.
Kasey Xenidis came through with a two-out RBI single in the top of the second inning to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The Hawks countered with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
Emma Zimmerman started the top of the seventh by getting hit by a pitch. Rylee Maloney moved her up to second and then a fielder's choice did not result in an out and put two on with one out. Tristyn Stewart than landed a ball inside the left field line for a double, plating the go-ahead runner. Cassidy Zelano followed with another double to center field, pushing both runners across the plate for the 4-1 lead. Not to be outdone, Haley Grygo hit an RBI double, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
The Hawks collected a pair of singles in the bottom of the seventh, but Sickle induced a grounder to third for the final out, moving to 2-0 in her freshman season.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Melbourne, Florida, for a doubleheader against Florida Tech. The first pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
