NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team belted out 46 runs on 48 hits in its 2023 home and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opening sweep of Alliance, 23-3 and 23-1, on Tuesday afternoon at a windy Asbury Field.
The Wildcats (10-6, 2-0 CACC) used a 14-run second inning in game one and a 10-run third inning in game two to separate themselves from Alliance in the doubleheader. The Wildcats scored 23 runs on 22 hits in game one and 23 runs on 26 hits in game two.
GAME 1:
Alliance came out of the gates and scored a run in the top of the first, getting a two-out RBI single to take the lead. But then it was all Wilmington from there.
The Wildcats sent 19 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring 14 runs on 11 hits while using two Alliance errors as well. Taylor Gillis came up to the plate with the bases loaded twice in the inning, hitting a two-run single to right center and then walking to record three RBI in the frame. Sara Miller hit a two-run homer to right center while Haley Downin hit a triple and Jess Reed hit a double for three extra base hits in the inning.
Lexi Moore hit a two-run triple into the right field corner in the third and then Renamarie Rocha collected an RBI single. Riley Maloney collected her first collegiate base hit with a single through the left side in the third while Cassidy Zelano, Bri Coyle, Danielle Hess, Gabirella Saucedo, and Lexi Moore all had RBI for eight more runs in the third inning.
Kylee Gunkel went the first three innings to earn the win, improving to 5-1 after allowing three runs (one earned), on six hits. Brooke Koehler finished the final two scoreless innings, allowing one hit. Gabriella Saucedo went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored in the game while Lexi Moore went 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Wildcats.
GAME 2:
Delani Sheehan struck out a pair in the top of the first and then the offense got back to work. The Wildcats scored five runs in the first, three in the second, 10 in the third, and five more in the fourth, recording 26 hits which is second most in a single game in program history.
Sara Miller, Bri Coyle, and Emma Zimmerman all collected RBI in the first inning, as the Wildcats scored five runs on five hits and two errors. Sara Miller had an RBI groundout in the second and then another run came home on an error before Zimmer added another RBI single to take an 8-0 lead after two innings.
Jess Reed placed one down the left field line for the first run of the third inning and then Sara Miller added a two-run triple. Danielle Hess hit an RBI double down the right field line and then Kylee Gunkel got in on the fun with an RBI single through the right side. At the end of the inning, the Wildcats scored 10 runs on nine hits and three errors to take an 18-0 lead.
Riley Maloney hit a sacrifice fly, Cassidy Zelano doubled, and Arianna Millan, Brooke Koehler, and Haley Downin all brought in runs with singles in the fourth to make it 23-1.
Delanie Sheehan took a perfect game into the top of the fourth and allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts. Renamarie Rocha pitched a scoreless fifth inning to close out the victory.
Sara Miller went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored while Bri Coyle and Isabella Eleazar each had three hits as well. Taylor Gillis, Lexi Moore, Haley Downin, and Cassidy Zelano all finished with two hits.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have 11 days off before their next contest, as they welcome Dominican to Asbury Field next Saturday, March 18, for another CACC doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.