EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - - A pair of seventh inning runs sparked the Wilmington University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of East Stroudsburg, 6-5 and 5-3, on Monday afternoon in the 2023 season opener played at Creekview Park.

It is just the second time in program history that Wildcats have started the season by winning its first two games, with the only other time coming in the 2021 truncated season where the Wildcats started 3-0.

GAME 1:

Bri Coyle laced a liner to center in the top of the seventh that couldn't be handled, and Sara Miller scored to break a 5-5 tie in the season opener. The Wildcats then induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the game and pick up the win.

The game started by Lexi Moore using her wheels to touch every base. She reached on a bunt single in the top of the first and then stole second and third. She later scored as Gabriela Saucedo walked with the bases loaded. Coyle made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center in the first.

The Warriors answered with three runs in the bottom of the second but Gabriela Saucedo tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the third. The Warriors answered again in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs and looked for more. But Arianna Millan stormed in an made a sliding catch on a bunt attempt and threw it to third for the double play to escape further damage.

Moore started the top of the fifth with a single and Sara Miller scored her with an RBI single. Arianna Millan came up with a two-out bloop single, scoring the tying run, but Bri Coyle was nailed at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run.

Sara Miller started the seventh with a shot in the left center gap for a double. Haley Downin bunted her to third and turned it into a hit and then stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs. Bri Coyle laced one to center with one out, and the centerfielder couldn't catch it on a slide, allowing Miller to score the go-ahead run. But that would be all the Wildcats would get in the frame, leaving runners on second and third.

The Warriors started the seventh with a single, but Renamarie Rocha induced a grounder back to the circle and she started the 1-6-3 double play to end the game.

Lexi Moore went 3-for-4 with two runs while Sara Miller went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs. Delani Sheehan started in the circle and went 2.1 inning before giving way to Rocha who went 4.2 scoreless inning for the win.

GAME 2:

Isabella Eleazar picked up would ended up being a huge two-run single in the top of the seventh, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead. The Warriors plated three in the seventh, but the Wildcats worked their way out for the sweep.

Kylee Gunkel returned to form from her freshman campaign and tossed the first four scoreless innings for the Wildcats, allowing only three hits. That allowed the offense to get on the board in the third inning.

Danielle Hess started the inning with a single. Now with runners on second and third, Sara Miller put one through the hole on the left side to plate Tristyn Stewart for the first run. BRi Coyle then singled home Lexi Moore and a Sara Miller came home on a passed ball and the Wildcats were up 3-0.

Brooke Koehler came on in the fifth and immediately set the first six batters she face down to get the game into the seventh.

Jess Reed started the seventh with a single and Danielle Hess added her second hit of the game to put two runners on with two outs. Isabella Eleazar then came up clutch with a single into right, plating both for the 5-0 lead.

The Warriors started the seventh with a dropped popup, a two-run blast, and a single, bringing Gunkel back into the circle. The Warriors scored once more on a foul ball sacrifice fly, but then Gunkel induced a grounded back to the circle for the third out to end the game, 5-3.

Sara Miller went 2-for-3 with another double while Danielle Hess was the only other Wildcats to record two hits, going 2-for-3. Gunkel earned the win by pitching a total of 5.0 innings with only allowing three hits and a walk.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats head to the 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia this weekend and then head to Florida for a week in the Sunshine State. The trip south starts Friday with games against Lincoln Memorial and Alabama Huntsville.