LYNDHURST, N.J. - - On the final day of the regular season, the Wilmington University softball team swept Felician, 10-2 and 15-6, on the road on Saturday at Lyndhurst Recreation, getting head coach Mike Shehorn his 200th career win in the process.
In his sixth season, Mike Shehorn is now 201-117 overall, and has won 30 or more games in five straight seasons.
GAME ONE:
Constant pressure led the Wildcats (34-12, 22-4 CACC) to the game one win, 10-2, scoring in all but the first inning of the shortened five-inning game. Eight different Wildcats picked up at least one win the game.
The scoring started in the second inning, as Courtney Dellinger walked to force in the game's first run. Two batters later, Kiana Broderson-Jones walked to bring in another run in the inning.
Annie Davila started the third with her sixth bomb of the year before Kiersten Comer plated Alyssa Velasquez with an RBI single. A third run came in as Burton beat out an infield single, and an errant throw allowed Jazmees Llamas to come in.
Lauren Lopez started the top of the fourth with a solo blast to center for the 6-2 lead, before Jazmeen Llamas forced in another run with a bases loaded walk.
A double steal gave the Wildcats an 8-2 lead in the top of the fifth before Kiersten Comer scored Annie Davila with a fielders' choice. Courtney Dellinger put the run-rule into effect with a hard shot single past the third baseman to score Alyssa Velasquez.
Game one starter Caitlyn Whiteside shut the Golden Falcons down in order in the bottom of the fifth, 1-2-3, to improve to 17-8 on the year. She struck out two and walked one, allowing two runs on four hits.
Lauren Lopez, Annie Davila, Alyssa Velasquez, and Kiersten Comer all had two hits for the Wildcats in the game.
GAME TWO:
A nine-run top of the seventh put the game out of reach as the Wildcats earned the sweep in heading into the CACC Tournament.
Felician (15-30, 11-15 CACC) jumped out in front with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Wildcats answered with five straight. They put two on the board in the third before taking the lead for good in the fourth.
Rosa'Lynn Burton doubled to right center to chase Jazmeen Llamas home for the 3-2 lead before two runs came in on a wild pitch.
Felician cut the deficit to 5-4 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but a Wilmington double steal kept the Golden Falcons at an arm's reach, 6-4, in the sixth.
The seventh started with a one-out error and a second out being recorded in the first three batters. Then Angela Antonini hit a two-run homer before Alex Sann started the rally again with a two-out single.
Lauren Lopez made it 11-4 with a two-out double before Makayla McCarthy broke it wide open by depositing a full count pitch to center field for a grand slam, giving the Wildcats a 15-4 lead.
McCarthy also went all seven for the Wildcats in the circle, improving to 16-4 on the year. She struck out six while walking one, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits.
Lauren Lopez went 5-for-5 with a double while Rosa'Lynn Burton went 3-for-5 with a double, two stolen bases and four runs scored. McCarthy led the team with four RBI on her grand slam.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will head to the CACC Tournament next week in being no worse than the No. 2 seed. The CACC Tournament will begin Thursday on the campus of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J.
