LITTLE FERRY, N.J. - - The Wilmington University softball team scored late in each game to earn the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep of Bloomfield, 9-0 and 8-0, on Saturday afternoon at Shannon Dalton Forde Memorial Field.
Molly Dill tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener, but not wanting to be outdone, Alexandra Ballester came out and threw a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in the nightcap to lead the Wildcats to the sweep.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (14-12, 14-6 CACC) scored a run in the top of the first, but didn't break things open until late in the game, scoring three in the fourth, three in the fifth, and capped it with two in the sixth to take the opener, 9-0.
A double steal produced the game's first run and Molly Dill didn't give up a hit until the bottom of the third inning. Her offense came back up in the top of the fourth, loaded the bases with two outs, and Lauren Lopez cleared them all with a three-run double to take a 4-0 lead.
A sacrifice fly by Isabella Eleazar put the Wildcats on the board in the fifth, but then Haley Downin hit a two-out, two-run double to move the score to 7-0. Danielle Hess scored on a fielder's choice in the sixth before Arianna Millan singled in Alyssa Velasquez for the final run of the game.
After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, Dill picked up a strikeout, a ground out, and a line out to end the game, 9-0. Dill struck out three while only allowing three hits and three walks to improve to 3-4 on the year.
Lauren Lopez went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI in the opener while Arianna Millan batted 2-for-4. Haley Downin went 1-for-3 with two RBI as well.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats once again scored in the top of the first in the nightcap, but didn't break things open until scoring three in the fifth, two in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
Haley Downin started the game with a leadoff triple and Sara Miller quickly made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly.
Alexandra Ballester allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the first, but induced a pop up and a line out to end the frame. It would be the only hit she would allow in the contest.
Isabella Eleazar started the fifth inning with a double to left center. An error scored the first run of the inning before Lauren Lopez singled in Courtney Dellinger. Two batters later, Alyssa Velasquez singled up the middle as Lopez scored to make it 4-0.
After Ballester set the Bears down in order in the bottom half with two strikeouts, The Wildcats put two more on the board in the top of the sixth. Haley Downin stayed red hot with an RBI double before Lauren Lopez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.
The final two runs came in on an error in the top of the seventh, and then Ballester set the Bears down in order once again to end the game, 8-0.
Haley Downin batted 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, while Rena Rocha and Lauren Lopez led the way with two RBI. Alexandra Ballester allowed only one walk, one hit, and one hit-by-pitch to improve to 6-4 on the year.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats travel to Caldwell on Sunday to battle the Cougars in a nonconference doubleheader. The two already played their CACC scheduled doubleheader earlier this year, with the teams splitting the day at Asbury Field. The First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.