WILMINGTON, Del. - - The bats came alive for the Wilmington University softball team as they earned a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep of Goldey-Beacom, 4-1 and 10-0 (6 inn.), on Thursday afternoon at the Jackson Complex.
Rosa'Lynn Burton and Makayla McCarthy collected multiple hits in the opener before Annie Davila and Lexi Baughman collected three hits each in the nightcap for the Wildcats (18-10, 6-2 CACC).
Game One:
The Wildcats didn't get on the board in the opener until the fifth inning, but scored a run or more in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning to erase the early 1-0 deficit.
The Lightning (1-14, 1-9 CACC) opened the scoring with a one out double, a sacrifice, and a bunt through the right side for the quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. But that was all starter Makayla McCarthy allowed in the game, striking out eight while only allowing three hits and two walks.
The offense left three on base in the second and was set down in order in the third and fourth before getting on the board in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Jazmeen Llamas started a rally with a bunt single and a stolen base. Rosa'Lynn Burton brought her in to tie the game with an RBI double, 1-1.
The Wildcats plated two more in the top of the sixth, as back-to-back saceifice bunts brought in Mirabella Klebart for the go-ahead run. Makayla McCarthy doubled to keep the inning alive before Lexi Baughman added an insurance run with a single down the right field line for the 3-1 lead.
McCarthy induced an inning ending line drive double play in the bottom of the sixth, erasing two runners on with one out in the frame.
Burton was the catalyst again for the Wildcats in the seventh, hitting a one out triple to right field. Alyssa Velasquez gave the Wildcats a 4-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left field. McCarthy finished off the Lightning with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh for the 4-1 victory.
Burton went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple while McCarthy went 2-for-3 with a double. McCarthy improved to 8-6 in the circle for the Wildcats.
Game Two:
It didn't take long for the Wildcats to score in the nightcap, as they put the Lightning on their heels with a three-run top of the first.
Two errors set the stage for McCarthy, as she doubled down the left field line to score Alyssa Velasquez. Now with two outs, Lexi Baughman singled back up the middle to plate two more, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Game two starter Caitlyn Whiteside only allowed one hit in the first three innings before the offense got back to scoring in the top of the fourth.
A leadoff walk and a one out error had runners on the corners for Olivia Carbone. She squared to squeeze in a run, but beat out the bunt for the single instead for the fourth inning's first run. Now with two outs and the bases loaded, Annie Davila singled back up the middle to plate two and give the Wildcats a 6-0 advantage.
Jazmeen Llamas hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning, scoring Baughman from second who hit a one-out double.
The Wildcats put the run rule in effect in the top of the sixth, as Annie Davila remained red hot and hit her fourth home run in six games, a two run shot to give the Wildcats a 9-0 lead. Baughman finished the scoring with another two-out RBI single back up the middle.
Whiteside induced double plays to end the fourth and fifth innings, and then set the Lightning down in order in the sixth to improve to 9-4 on the season.
Davila went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in the nightcap while Baughman finished 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
Up Next:
The Wildcats make up a pair of games tomorrow, heading to Chestnut Hill to close out the CACC doubleheader suspended on March 30. After that game, the Wildcats will faceoff against Holy Family at Chestnut Hill to finish a suspended doubleheader from April 3.