NEW CASTLE, Del. - - After dropping the opening game of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Post on Senior Day, the four Wilmington University softball seniors came back and made game two memorable, led by Kinsley Parker's bases clearing double, to earn the split, 4-6 and 6-4, on Saturday at Asbury Field.
The seniors batted 4-for-10 with four RBI's and two runs scored in the second game, helping the Wildcats (21-20, 13-5 CACC) remain in fourth place in the CACC standings. Post (12-28, 10-12 CACC) came back to win game one by breaking a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fifth, remaining in the eighth and final playoff spot in the CACC standings with the split.
The Wildcats started out on the right foot in the first game, picking up three early runs on one swing of the bat. Brooke Berger singled through the left side with one out to start the rally. After Christin Headley walked to put runners on first and second, Jill Stafford sent a ball over the left center field fence for her fourth home run of the season, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Post got a pair of the runs back right away, as Amy Mantha singled and Kim Bentson homered to right center to lead off the second to make it 3-2 after two innings.
The Eagles took the lead with an unearned run in the fourth and added two more unearned runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The Wildcats cut it to 5-4 with a single run in the bottom half of the fifth, but could not inch any closer from there. Brooke Berger led off the inning with a single to left before Headley put two runners on with a walk. Now on second and third, Rachel Painter lofted a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Berger from third for the sacrifice fly.
Post tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning, setting the score at 6-4 in favor of the visitors in the first game of the doubleheader.
Danielle Griffin was saddled with the loss, coming in from the bullpen in the top of the fifth. She threw three innings while giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits. She took over for Chelsea Botsch who tossed the first four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Botsch struck out four batters in the no decision.
Berger collected two hits in game one while Stafford and Amanda Crockett each added a hit apiece. Stafford (three) and Painter (one) knocked in the games runs.
Wilmington scored single runs in the first and second innings of game two, but it was a big, four-run third inning that carved the way for a split for the Wildcats.
Berger led off the third inning with her third triple of the season on the eight pitch of the at-bat. Headley followed with a single over the head of the shortstop for the innings for run. A Painter single and a walk by senior Kristin Garvin loaded the bases for fellow senior Parker with one out. Parker crushed the first pitch she saw towards left, just out of the reach of the left fielder and all the way to the wall, scoring all three runs. Parker distracted the relay, getting caught in a run-down in between second and third, allowing Garvin to race around from first.
The 6-1 lead was more than enough for game two starter Katie Warrington, who tossed her 12th complete game, going the distance while allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits. She struck out nine to improve to 12-7 on the season.
Warrington ran into trouble in the top of the seventh, looking for the split. After getting the first out of the inning, Post's Jackie Bonamassa singled and moved to second on a fielder's choice. With two runners on and one out, Stephanie DeMartino flared one to no man's land in short center field, but Shelby Thompson jumped on it quickly and threw it third to record the force out.
Now with two outs, Mantha singled back up the middle to score theteam's fourth run of the game, but Warrington got Bentson to fly out to Thompson in center with runners on first and third to end the game.
The Wildcats scored in the first inning on back-to-back two out doubles by Headley and Stafford to open the scoring. Senior Kristin Garvin doubled to lead off the second and scored on a single up the middle by classmate Crockett two batters later.
Headley, Painter and Crockett all collected two hits for the Wildcats in the second game while Berger, Stafford, Garvin and Parker added one hit apiece. Parker led all hitters with three RBI's in her final home game.
Today was the final home game for the Wildcats, as they will take to the road for their final four doubleheaders this week to end the season. They have a makeup at Caldwell on Monday, travel to Chestnut Hill on Tuesday and Georgian Court on Thursday. The final regular season series will be on Saturday at Nyack.
