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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team picked up another Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep, defeating Chestnut Hill, 11-3 and 8-0, in a pair of mercy-ruled games at Asbury Field on Thursday afternoon.
Game One:
A six-run second inning set the stage for the Wildcats (21-9, 9-1 CACC) in the opener, before they scored three in the bottom of the sixth to force the eight-run rule victory, 11-3.
Tied 1-1 in the second inning, the Wildcats loaded the bases without recording an out. McCarthy singled before Courtney Dellinger worked a walk. Jazmeen Llamas dropped one into left to load the bases. Now with one out, Rosa'Lynn Burton singled into left for the 2-1 lead before Kiana Broderson-Jones plated two with a single up the middle.
When it looked as though the Griffins (8-16, 3-7 CACC) were going to get out the jam, a fly ball popped out of the glove of the right fielder, scoring two more for the Wildcats. Annie Davila capped the six-run inning with an RBI double to right center, giving the Wildcats a 7-1 lead.
Leading 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, Alyssa Velasquez started a one-out rally with a single up the middle. Lauren Lopez pulled a ball inside the third base bag, chasing Velasquez all the way around from first for an RBI double. Annie Davila reached on an error as Lopez scored and Makayla McCarthy ended the game with an RBI double over the head of the centerfielder, plating Davila for the 11-3 win.
Rosa'Lynn Burton, Kiana Broderson-Jones, and Makayla McCarthy led the team with two hits each while Broderson-Jones had a game-high three RBI. Lauren Lopez also had two RBI.
Alyssa Velasquez' hit was her 100th of the junior's career.
Caitlyn Whiteside picked up her CACC leading 13th win of the year, striking out five while only allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits.
Game Two:
The bats stayed hot for the Wildcats in the nightcap, as they scored two in the first, two in the second, one in the third, and capped it with a three-run bottom of the fifth to win 8-0.
Rosa'Lynn Burton sparked the two run first with a lead-off single, followed by a stolen base and a Kiana Broderson-Jones walk. Now on second and third, Makayla McCarthy sent a ball to deep right, and the ball popped out of the glove by the right fielder, allowing both runners to score.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with only one out, but Lopez chopped one back to the pitcher's circle. The play came home for the second out of the inning, but the throw to first looking for the double play came out of the glove of the first baseman, bringing in one run. Annie Davila then pulled one through the left side for another RBI single, giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
Two quick outs started the bottom of the third, but Courtney Dellinger worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Alexis Sann then lined a ball over the head of the third baseman and into the left field corner for a triple, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
Now with runners on first and third and one out in the fifth, Dellinger tripled on a liner inside the first base bag and into the right field corner, scoring both Velasquez and Kiersten Comer. Alexis Sann then lined a single over the head of the shortstop, giving the Wildcats the 8-0 victory in five innings.
Burton, Velasquez, and Sann all had two hits for the Wildcats while Dellinger and Sann led the team with two RBI each.
Makayla McCarthy started the game and came back in to pitch the top of the fifth, totaling five innings total to improve to 7-3 overall. She struck out five while only allowing two walks. Caitlyn Whiteside tossed two innings in the combined shutout.
Up Next:
The Wildcats run through the CACC continues on Saturday, as they head to Concordia for another conference doubleheader. The games begin at 2:00 p.m.
