CLERMONT, Fla. - - A late rally propelled the Wilmington University softball team to a come from behind victory over Michigan-Dearborn, 4-3, on the second day of its Spring Break trip at the National Training Center.
Jillian Stafford was the catalyst in all dimensions of the game, as she knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning and then went back out to the circle and finished her complete game four-hitter to pick up the win. The Wildcats (2-1) scored three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory against NAIA foe Michigan-Dearborn (3-8).
Wilmington took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third inning, starting with a two out rally. After Rice Fazio led off the inning with a free base on balls, she finally reached second on a wild pitch after two outs were recorded. Shelby Thompson made the wild pitch hurt, knocking a single into left field to score Fazio for the games' first run. The Wildcats threatened more after Brook Ash followed with a single, but stranded two runners on base as Thompson was caught at the plate to end the inning.
The Wolves got back in the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as they put their first two runners of the inning on base. Standing at second and third with one out, Amelia Mittelbrun singled down the left field line, scoring both runners to take a 2-1 lead. Standing on second, Mittlebrun was able to come around and score one batter later on a fielding error to lead the Wolves to a 3-1 lead.
The score held up for the next two innings before the Wildcat bats came alive again. Fazio set the table again for the Wildcats, leading off the top of the seventh with a double to left center. Wolves' pitcher Erika Southworth got the next two batters out and looked as though she would escape without any damage, but Thompson's speed put runners on first and third on a single to third base. Now standing at second after a wild pitch, Thompson came around to score and tie the game as Ash doubled to left center for two RBI's. Stafford kept the rally going two batters later with a single down the left field line for what would be the game-winning RBI.
Stafford then returned to the circle and worked around a one out error and the game-tying run standing at second base in the bottom of the seventh. Stafford picked up a strikeout and induced a fly ball to left field to end the game.
The senior right-hander struck out a career best nine batters in her second career complete game as a Wildcat. She allowed four hits while walking three for her first win of the season.
Thompson led the offense by going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Ash went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Stafford and Fazio each added a base hit to round out the seven hits for the Wildcats.
The second game scheduled for Tuesday against Immaculata was moved to 6 p.m. at the National Training Center. Rain postponed the game scheduled for 11 a.m. but will be made up starting at 6 p.m.
