ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - Early runs by the Dominican College softball team allowed the Chargers to take a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader, 9-1 and 3-2, from the Wilmington University squad at the DC Softball Field on Friday afternoon.
The sweep gives the Wildcats (22-22, 14-10 CACC) its fourth straight loss, and fifth in their last six games overall. The two wins continue the hot streak for the Chargers (17-22, 14-10 CACC) after a slow start to the season for the perennial East Region power.
Dominican tallied four runs in the first three innings of Thursday's first game before scoring all three runs of game two in the first inning.
The Wildcats could never recover in the first game, as they received two hits from freshman Colby Wyatt, as well as a double from Ashley Bennett and singles from Jen Fischbach and Kelsey Doherty.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Bennett worked a walk and stood on second following a wild pitch. Fischbach then singled into center field, scoring Bennett from second, but it was too little too late as the Chargers scored at least one run in every inning by the second to take the 9-1 victory.
The Chargers put their first two batters on base in the bottom of the first inning in game two, scoring the game's first run on a sacrifice fly to left field. Now with two outs, Dominican scored on a single to right and a double to left in back-to-back at-bats to take a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
The Wildcats retaliated in the top of the third inning, cutting the deficit to a single run, 3-2. Meghan Logullo started the third with a single into right field, before Rice Fazio put two runners on by working a walk. After Cambria Ziemba sacrificed her at-bat to move the runners up a base, Wyatt collected a pair of RBIs with a single to right to bring the Wildcats to within one.
Game two starter Stephanie Sarris settled down after the first inning, allowing only two hits the rest of the contest.
The offense had chances to score in each of the next three innings, but couldn't find the two-out hit to bring in the tying run. Becca Stanley was left stranded on second in the fourth after a one-single while Katrina Swank was left at first in the fifth after a leadoff single.
Fischbach produced another leadoff single in the top of the sixth, but was against left at second base as the inning ended.
Dominican starter Kimberly Ragazzo induced two ground outs to start the seventh inning before striking out the final out of the game, giving the Chargers a 3-2 victory and the sweep.
Sarris was dealt the loss in game two for the Wildcats, falling to 11-8 on the year after picking up two strikeouts but giving up three runs on five hits. Fischbach fell to 3-6 on the year with the game one loss, striking out a pair but gave up four runs on five hits in three innings of work.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday to complete their third doubleheader in three days, as they return to Asbury Field for a pair against Bloomfield. Saturday is also Senior Day for the Wildcats, as they will honor Sarris, Logullo, and Danielle Griffin prior to the doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.