NEW CASTLE, Del. - - In a pair of completely opposite style games, the Wilmington University softball team out slugged Caldwell, 17-11, in the opener before falling in a tight contest, 2-1, in nine-innings in the nightcap on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day at Asbury Field.
Game One:
The Wildcats (28-12, 16-4 CACC) outslugged the Cougars (26-16, 16-4 CACC) in the opener, collecting 21 hits and having 16 RBI with 17 runs scored. The Wildcats had four doubles and two home runs in the game as well.
Caldwell took the first punch on Saturday, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after a three-run homer in the top of the first. But Alyssa Velasquez put the Wildcats on the board with an RBI single. Makayla McCarthy and Lexi Baughman also came through with two-out RBI singles in the first, getting the Wildcats back to within 4-3.
Another two-run top of the third put Caldwell up 6-3, but Courtney Dellinger doubled in two before Kiana Broderson-Jones added an RBI single to tie the game. Alyssa Velasquez then gave the Wildcats the lead with a two-run double to left, 8-6.
Caldwell came back to tie the game once more in the top of the fourth, but senior Lexi Baughman gave the WIlcats the lead for good with a two-run blast to center in the bottom of the fourth, 10-8. Rosa'Lynn Burton then followed with a two-run shot of her own, and when all was said and done in the fourth, the Wildcats led 14-8.
Burton hit another sacrifice fly in the fifth while Annie Davila capped the scoring with a two-run down the left field line in the sixth, 17-11.
Makayla McCarthy came in the top of the fourth and pitched the final four frames, improving to 13-3 on the year with the win.
Rosa'Lynn Burton went a perfect 4-for-4 with a homer, three RBI, three runs scored, and three stolen bases in the opener. Kiana Broderson-Jones, Alyssa Velasquez, Annie Davila, and Lexi Baughman all finished with three hits each, as Velasquez and Baughman had three RBI each. Broderson-Jones also finished with three stolen bases in the game.
Game Two:
In the complete opposite of game one, the Wildcats and Cougars were locked in a pitcher's duel in the nightcap.
The Cougars left two runners on base in the top of the first, and had an opportunity against Caitlyn Whiteside in the top of the fourth. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but Whiteside picked up a pop up to end the threat and leave the bases loaded.
That allowed the Wildcats to strike in the bottom of the fourth. Rosa'Lynn Burton started the inning with an infield single. She then stole second and raced all the way home as Broderson-Jones bunted a ball toward second base for the 1-0 lead.
Whiteside worked around a leadoff error in the top of the sixth, leaving two on, but wouldn't be so lucky in the top of the seventh. With one out and the bases empty, leadoff batter Nora Conway homered to right center, tying the contest, 1-1.
The Wildcats had a shot in the bottom of the eighth, as Burton hit a two-out single and stole second. Broderson-Jones walked to put two on, but Alyssa Velasquez' liner was right at the center fielder for the third out.
Now in the international tiebreaker, the Cougars converted a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch from Makayla McCarthy. The Wildcats moved Velasquez up to third on a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the ninth, but McCarthy chopped one back to the circle before Angela Antonini hit a sharp grounder right to the second baseman.
Burton extended her hitting streak to 21-straight, going 2-for-4 with a run and two more stolen bases. She is now 45-for-45 in stolen bases this year. Annie Davila also went 2-for-3 for the Wildcats.
Up Next:
The Wildcats host Nyack in another CACC contest at Asbury Field this week, welcoming the Warrior to New Castle on Tuesday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
