NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team evened its season record with a doubleheader rout over visiting Washington Adventist, winning 17-0 while only allowing one hit in game one and throwing a combined no-hitter in game two with a 16-0 win at Asbury Field on Friday.
Danielle Griffin and Katie Warrington combined to throw a five inning no-hitter in game two, striking out 12 batters while only being one hit batter away from a shortened perfect game. The Wildcats (14-14) offense also woke up today, collecting 16 hits in game one and only needing nine hits in game two to earn the doubleheader header sweep.
Griffin, a junior from Greenwood, Del., tossed the first two innings in the second game, striking out four Washington Adventist (2-10) batters before turning the ball over to Warrington. The senior from Townsend, Del., pitched the remaining three innings, not allowing a hit while striking out eight batters. Warrington hit a batter with two outs in the top of the fifth, ending the threat of a five-inning perfect game.
Game one was all about the offense, as nine different Wildcats recorded at least one hit with six different players collected two or more. Brook Ash went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored in game one, hitting her first collegiate home run to kick start the offense in the top of the first. Brooke Berger, Rachel Painter, Chelsie Botsch, and Rice Fazio all hit doubles in the first game, while Jillian Stafford hit her second triple of the season.
Ash, Christin Headley, Stafford, Berger, and Painter all finished game one with two hits each while Cambria Ziemba led the squad by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Shelby Thompson, Botsch and Fazo rounded out the teams 16 hits for the first game.
Botsch picked up the win in the circle for the Wildcats, taking the ball after Stafford started the first two innings. Stafford gave up one walk but struck out four batters while not allowing a hit in two innings. Botsch came on and threw the final three innings, allowing the lone hit while striking out six batters and giving up one walk. Botsch is now 4-6 on the year.
Game two was more about the pitching by the home team, while Griffin and Warrington led the team to the doubleheader sweep in its final nonconference doubleheader of the year. But the team still collected nine hits and 16 runs, also using five walks and six Shock errors to jump out to the early lead.
Emily Nowell led the offense by going 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI at the top of the Wildcat lineup. Six other Wildcats collected one hit apiece, led by doubles from Rice Fazio, Skye Boris, and Botsch. Fazio, Botsch and Meghan Logullo also led all batters in game two with two RBI's each.
Wilmington will play Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheaders for the rest of the 2013 season, starting first with a double-dip against crosstown rivals Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday. The doubleheader will be played at Asbury Field, with the first pitch of game one schedule for 3:00 p.m.
