NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A late game comeback fell just short in game two as the Wilmington University softball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader with Nyack, winning game one, 4-2, before falling in game two, 3-2, at Asbury Field on Monday afternoon.
GAME 1:
Haley Downin got things moving in the bottom of the first for the Wildcats, as she led off the inning with a double to right center. Lauren Lopez followed with a one out single, and as Downin was rounding third, she was interfered with, and the obstruction call allowed her to come home for the game's first run, 1-0.
A one out double chased a runner all the way around form first base for the Warriors (5-14, 5-10 CACC), tying the game in the top of the fourth, 1-1. An error in the outfield with the next batter allowed another run to come home, giving the visitors the 2-1 lead.
But the Wildcats had an answer in the bottom of the fourth, as Annie Davila started the frame with a leadoff double. After Alyssa Velasquez walked, Arianna Millan bunted one to the right side and as it snuck under the pitcher's glove, the ball rolled into an empty infield. Because all the fielders were moving to cover a base, Annie Davila was able to round third and head home to tie the game, 2-2.
Now with one out, Isabella Eleazar lofted one to right field that dropped in behind the fielder, and she raced all the way around to third for a two-run triple, giving the Wildcats the 4-2 lead.
Alexandra Ballester replaced starter Molly Dill with two outs in the fourth and set the Warriors down in order in the fifth, lining her up for the win. Haley Downin came on in sixth and worked out of a first and third jam with one out, picking up a strikeout to retire the side. Ballester than came back into the circle in the seventh and put the Warriors down to secure the win.
Lauren Lopez and Annie Davila each batted 2-for-3 with doubles coming from Annie Davila and Haley Downin. Isabella Eleazar led the team with two RBI in the win.
GAME 2:
The Warriors started fast in the nightcap, scoring once in the top of the first and two more in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Wildcats tried to come back late in the contest, scoring once in the fifth and once in the sixth, but left 10 runners on base to eventually fall short.
A single and a double to start the game put Nyack on the board, 1-0, but a defensive play kept the Warriors off the board the rest of the inning. With one out and a runner on third, Isabella Eleazar caught a fly ball in center and threw out the runner at the plate attempting to score to end the frame.
The Warriors picked up two more runs in the third, starting the inning with back-to-back singles. A double to left over the head of the leftfielder who broke in on the ball allowed the first run to score. An RBI groundout made it 3-0 in favor of the Warriors.
The Wildcats left two runners on base in the first, and single runners on in the second and third innings. Jessica Ahearn started a two-out rally in the fourth with a double, as a walk and an infield single loaded the bases. But a line drive off the bat of Downin was tracked down in left, leaving the Wildcats scoreless.
Sara Miller doubled to start the fifth and Lauren Lopez singled her home to begin the fifth, but that's all the team could muster in the inning. Eleazar and Dellinger hit one-out singles in the sixth, but the Wildcats could only get one in the inning on a two-out error, leaving two on. The went down in order in the seventh to end the game.
Courtney Dellinger came off the bench to lead the team with two base hits in the game. Renamarie Rocha tossed three scoreless innings of relief while Molly Dill threw two scoreless innings of relief. Ballester was saddled with the loss in the nightcap and is now 7-5 on the year.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have two doubleheaders remaining in the regular season, starting with Dominican on Thursday at Asbury Field. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. against the Chargers.
