Video Recap at Bottom of Page
Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern MaryKate Rumbaugh
NEW CASTLE, Del. – It took to the bottom of the eighth inning in the first game for the Wilmington University softball team to defeat Jefferson, 3-2, on a walk-off, but then Makayla McCarthy threw a five-inning no-hitter in the 16-0 second game at Asbury Field on Tuesday afternoon in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup.
Game One:
Down to their final at bats in the bottom of the seventh inning, Annie Davila hit a homerun to tie the ballgame at 2-2 to send it into extra innings, before Wilmington could take the win in the bottom of the eighth on two Jefferson errors.
The Wildcats (19-9, 7-2 CACC) saw themselves down for most of the game as the Rams (10-16, 5-7 CACC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. It wasn't until the bottom half of the inning that Makayla McCarthy sparked a rally as she was hit by a pitch to start the inning. With two outs, Courtney Dellinger was able to hit a double into left field to score pinch runner Alexi Sann and get the Wildcats on the board.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kiana Broderson-Jones gave the Wildcats some momentum with one out as she tripled to left field, but the Wildcats couldn't bring her home and would strand her on third.
Down 2-1, with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior Annie Davila came up big for the Wildcats as she homered to left field to tie the ball game up at 2-2 and force extra innings.
Pitcher Caitlyn Whiteside would retire the side in order in the top of the eighth and bring the Wildcats to bat. Jazmeen Llamas would start the inning with a walk to bring the top of the lineup and Rosa'Lynn Burton up. Burton would lay down a sacrifice bunt to third base, but reach on a throwing error, advancing both her and Llamas. The Rams' right fielder's throw into the infield then got away from the catcher for Llamas to score and give the Wildcats the walk-off win.
Caitlyn Whiteside would throw a complete game, going 8.0 IP, allowing four hits, two runs and two strikeouts. Burton, Kiana-Borderson-Jones, Annie Davila (1 RBI), and Courtney Dellinger would all have hits for the Wildcats.
Jefferson's Stephanie Pepper would strike out 11 batters and hit a solo homer for the Rams.
Game Two:
After the come from behind win, the Wildcats had momentum on their side, as they got out to a fast start in game two, scoring seven runs in the first two innings.
Annie Davila would bring in the first two runs as she singled to right field to start the Wildcats 16-hit game in the bottom of the first.
The hits kept coming in the next three innings for the Wildcats, as Alexis Sann, Kiana Broderson-Jones, Alyssa Velasquez, and Lauren Lopez all brought home runs in the bottom of the second to give them a 7-0 lead.
Sann would start the scoring in the bottom of the third inning for WilmU with a double, before Rosa'Lynn Burton followed her up with a triple to left field. Kiana Broderson-Jones would them single up the middle to score Burton and give the Wildcats a 10-0 lead heading into the top of the fourth.
The Wildcats were still not finished, as the first three batters in the bottom of the fourth inning got on for Wilmington to bring up Rosa'Lynn Burton. Burton would single up the middle to score one and keep the bases loaded for Broderson-Jones. Kiana Broderson-Jones would then connect for the fifth consecutive hit for the Wildcats, sending a ball over the left center fence for a grand slam to give the Wildcats a 15-0 lead.
Kiersten Comer would also get into the mix, reaching on a fielder's choice to score Alyssa Velasquez and give WilmU their 16th run of the game heading into the top of the fifth inning.
Sophomore Makayla McCarthy (at left) would be dominant on the mound for the Wildcats, as she retired the first six batters of the game in order. The only inning she allowed a person on base was in the top of the third, but other than that, McCarthy struck out the side in the top of the fifth inning to give herself the no hitter in the contest. She would go 5.0 IP, allowing no hits, no runs, one walk, hit one batter, and had nine strikeouts.
Alexis Sann went 3-for-3 with two RBI, as Rosa'Lynn Burton went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Kiana Broderson-Jones finished with two hits, one run, and six RBI. Lauren Lopez and Annie Davila each had two RBI for Wilmington.
Next Up:
The Wildcats are back at Asbury Field on Thursday when they host Chestnut Hill for a CACC doubleheader. Game one is set for 2:30 p.m.
