NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Chelsea Botsch and Katie Warrington led the Wilmington University softball team to a doubleheader sweep over cross-town rival Goldey-Beacom, 3-1 and 2-1, with game two ending in walk-off fashion at Asbury Field on Tuesday afternoon.
In the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference clash, the Wildcats (14-12, 3-3 CACC) scored three runs in the bottom of the first in game while Botsch shut down the Lighting lineup with a complete game three-hitter. Warrington followed suit with a complete game one-hitter while the bats woke up late to earn the come from behind victory for the sweep.
The bats were alive early and often in game one, in what looked like would turn into a blowout after the first inning of play. After Botsch shut the Lightning (9-13, 5-5 CACC) in the top of the first, the Wildcats put their first two batters on first and third with back to back singles by Cambria Ziemba and Brook Ash. Christin Headley grounded out to second but recorded the RBI as Ziemba came home to score the games' first run. Three batters and an out later, Skye Boris put one into left field that was misplayed, allowing both Ash and Brooke Berger to score for the 3-0 lead.
The Lightning got one back in the fourth with a leadoff single and an RBI double, but Botsch escaped without any further damage to preserve the lead. The sophomore shut the Lightning down the rest of the way, improving to 5-6 overall while tying a season high with seven strikeouts.
After the first inning, the offense was relatively quiet while only able to gather three more hits in the game. Five players recorded a hit for the Wildcats in the first game, as Headley knocked in the only run of the game. Ziemba, Ash, Berger, Rachel Painter, and Shelby Thompson accounted for the five Wilmington hits in game one.
The home team needed to mount a comeback in the nightcap, trailing their crosstown rivals 1-0 after the fourth inning. The Wildcats collected more hits in game two (7), but couldn't get a run to cross the plate until the fifth inning.
Trailing 1-0, Painter started the bottom of the sixth with a one out double to right. Now with runners on first and third after an infield single by Thompson, a throwing error by the Goldey-Beacom shortstop allowed for Botsch, who was pinch runner for Painter, to come home with the tying run.
Warrington continued to shut the Lightning down in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, giving the Wildcats one last chance in the home half of the seventh.
The Wildcats were in business right from the get-go, as Boris led off the inning with a double to right center. Emily Nowell came in to pinch run at second base and eventually moved up to third on a ground out, the second out of the inning. Rice Fazio put the next ball in play and put the pressure on the Lightning defense, as an error by the shortstop allowed Nowell to score with the game-winning, walk-off run.
Warrington moved to 9-2 on the year with the complete game win. She only allowed a fourth inning single back to the circle while striking out 13 batters without giving up a walk.
It was the fourth straight win for the Wildcats who moved their record back above .500 for the first time since being 8-7 on March 6.
Wilmington returns to the road for its next four games, heading to University of the Sciences on Thursday for another CACC doubleheader. The first game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch.
