MELBOURNE, Fla. - - The bats came alive in the nightcap for the Wilmington University softball team, leading the Wildcats to another split in Florida, falling in game one at Florida Tech, 5-2, before collecting 12 hits and winning, 8-4, in game two on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats had 19 hits in the two games combined, all singles. The Panthers had 16 hits in the two games combined, but with two doubles and a homer in game one and a double and a homer in game two as well.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats (7-5) cut into a 3-0 deficit with two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Panthers (9-11) tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth to win game one. The Wildcats had seven hits in the game but left eight runners on base.
A two-out infield single in the second put the Panthers on the board and then a two-run double in the third made it 3-0. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth, but only mustered an RBI walk and a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Wildcats left a two-out single on first in the fifth and then had runners on first and third with one out and couldn't score in the top of the sixth. Miranda Schwartz then lifted a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth for insurance runs for the Panthers.
Jess Reed went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot in the opener while Haley Downin, Sara Miller, Gabriella Saucedo, and Isabella Eleazar all had singles as well. Delani Sheehan went the distance and fell to 2-3 on the year.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats scored in each of their last three at-bats, taking the lead for good with a four-run fifth inning. The Wildcats had 12 hits in game two, as well as seven walks, and had ample opportunity to score, leaving 13 runners on base.
The Wildcats left five runners on in the first two innings but then Emma Zimmerman came through with a two-out RBI single back through the box in the top of the third. The Panthers answered with a two-out RBI single of their own in the home half of the inning, but the Wildcats took the lead for good in the top of the fifth.
With the bases loaded and one out, Taylor Gillis hit one under the pitchers glove and through the infield for a two-run single. Tristyn Stewart scored on a wild pitch and then Lexi Moore looped one into left to plate Gillis and the Wildcats were on top, 5-1.
But the Panthers didn't go away easily, as a leadoff walk and one out bunt put two runners on. Cheyenne Nelson then got into one, hitting a three-run homer to bring the home team to within 5-4.
Wilmington punched right back in the top of the sixth, however, as Arianna Millan scored Sara Millers with a single. Emma Zimmerman scored on a wild pitch and the Wildcats again had a 7-4 lead. Haley Downin added an insurance run with an RBI single in the seventh as well.
Kylee Gunkel improved to 4-0 on the year, leaving two runners on in the bottom of the seventh to finish the complete game. She allowed four runs on six hits in the win.
Jess Reed collected three more hits in the nightcap, batting 6-for-9 on the day. Emma Zimmerman went 3-for-4 while Taylor Gillis and Arianna Millan added two hits each as well.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats take Thursday off and then wrap up their Florida trip with a date at Southern Florida on Friday. First pitch of the doubleheader in Lakeland is set for 5:00 p.m.