NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team continued its hot streak through the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with two more wins on Saturday, defeating Felician, 8-3 and 5-0, at Asbury Field.
The two wins extend the Wildcats (29-13, 16-4 CACC) CACC winning streak to nine straight since losing to Holy Family on Monday, April 9.
The game one win was head coach Mike Shehorn's 158 victory at the helm of the Wildcats, becoming the program's winningest head coach. Now in his fifth year, Shehorn is 159-101 for a .631 win percentage, passing former coach Erin Harvey's mark of 157-128-1 in six seasons from 2007-12.
Game One:
A five run third inning set the Wildcats apart in the opener. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no one out in the inning and collected back-to-back RBI singles from Lexi Baughman and Jordyn Virden to get on the board. Lauren Lopez brought in two more with an RBI single through the left side before Caitlyn Whiteside helped herself out with an RBI single through the left side, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
Whiteside was at it again in the fifth inning, as she collected another RBI with a two-out single up the middle, scoring Baughman from second who left off the inning with a double.
The Golden Falcons finally broke game one starter Caitlyn Whiteside in the fifth, hitting a three-run, two-out homer to left center to cut the deficit to 6-3. But the Wildcats were able to answer the call again in the sixth inning, as Annie Davila responded with a two-run, two-out single of her own, opening the lead back out to 8-3.
Whiteside left two runners on in the top of the seventh, but escaped to pick up the win and improve to a CACC best 15-5 in the circle. She allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out three with two walks. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate, picking up two RBI.
Rosa'Lynn Burton went 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Lexi Baughman added a 2-for-4 game with a double and two runs scored.
Game Two:
The Wildcats secured the sweep in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third and two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. That was more than enough for game-two starter Makayla McCarthy as she pitched a five-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.
Makayla McCarthy opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, hitting a double down the right field line to plate Rosa'Lynn Burton. Now with two outs, Lexi Baughman singled into left center for two more runs as McCarthy and Alyssa Velasquez came home.
Caitlyn Whiteside stayed hot form the first game at the plate with a pinch hit RBI single up the middle in the sixth for an insurance run. Jazmeen Llamas followed with an infield single to second, beating out the play to allow Keara McCarthy to score for the 5-0 lead.
Makayla McCarthy set the Golden Falcons down in order in the top of the second to secure the complete game shutout. She improved to 13-8 on the year with the win.
Burton and Davila each batted 2-for-3 in the nightcap with Burton scoring one run. Over her nine-game hitting streak, Burton is 21-for-28, hitting a cool .750 from atop the Wildcats lineup.
Up Next:
The Wildcats step outside of the CACC for their final nonconference doubleheader of the regular season on Tuesday. They host Kutztown in a doubleheader at Asbury Field on the 24th, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.