PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The bats came alive for the Wilmington University softball team to the tune of 29 hits, as it swept Chestnut Hill, 8-1 and 14-2, in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday afternoon at the CHC Softball Field.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (7-9, 2-0 CACC) didn't score until the third inning, but then they scored in each of the next four innings to win the opener going away, 8-1.
Speed got the Wildcats on the board in the third inning, as Tristyn Stewart beat out a single to the pitcher, scoring Lexi Moore who singled, stole second, and got to third on a Taylor Gillis bunt single.
Taylor Gillis made it 3-0 in the fourth, hitting a two-out, two-run single to left center, plating both Gabbie Saucedo and Isabella Eleazar. A couple of errors scored allowed the Wildcats to score three more in the top of the fifth, and then Tristyn Stewart followed a Gillis triple with an RBI double to make it 7-1 in the sixth. Lauren Lopez completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly two batters later, putting the Wildcats up 8-1.
Renamarie Rocha pitched the first 3.1 innings, striking out four while giving up a run on three hits and two walks. Kylee Gunkel came on for the final 3.2 innings of work, striking out five while only allowing four hits to improve to 4-5 on the year.
Taylor Gillis went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in the win. Stewart finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Lexi Moore and Haley Downin each had two hits as well.
GAME 2:
Chestnut Hill (5-13, 0-2 CACC) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but then the Wildcats came back with a five-run second inning, a four-run third inning, and a four-run third inning to take control.
Adriana Bueno doubled to score Lauren Lopez and tie the game, 1-1. Still in the second and now leading 3-1, Haley Downin hit a two-run, two-out double to left center, plating Lexi Moore and Taylor Gillis and give the Wildcats a 5-1 lead.
The Wildcats hit a pair of sacrifice flies in the third, adding RBI singles from Megan Sterling and Lexi Moore to take a 9-1 lead. Megan Sterling added to her game with an RBI double to right center in the fourth and then Arianna Millan launched her second homer of the season, a two-run shot to left center for a 12-2 lead.
In her first start of the season, Molly Dill went four innings and allowed two unearned runs on four hits, earning her first win of the season. Haley Downin came on and pitched a scoreless fifth inning to close out the win.
Haley Downin went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI while Adriana Bueno went 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Gabbie Saucedo, Megan Sterling, and Arianna Millan all finished with two RBI.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats remain on the road with their next CACC doubleheader, traveling to Nyack on Saturday to take on the Warriors. The first pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m.