BENSALEM, Pa. - - The bats came alive in game two for the 25th ranked Wilmington University softball team, as they swept Holy Family, 6-4 and 14-5, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Bensalem High School.
The wins are the fifth and sixth straight by the Wildcats (30-10, 20-2 CACC) who won 30 games for the ninth time in the program's NCAA era, and the seventh time under 10th year head coach Mike Shehorn.
GAME 1:
Holy Family (11-25, 9-9 CACC) made a game of it late, as the Wildcats hung on down the stretch to win the opener.
The Wildcats didn't get their first hit off Tiger starter Paige Tidaback until the second time through the lineup. With two outs and the bases empty, Sara Miller singled and stole second. Gabriella Saucedo doubled home Miller and then Haley Downin added an RBI single to make it 2-0 in the top of the fourth.
Gabriella Saucedo scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth and then Haley Downin scored on a squeeze bunt play, putting the Wildcats on top 4-0.
Wilmington starter Delani Sheehan allowed two hits through the first five innings, but the Tigers cut it to a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth. A single and a homer made it 4-2, and then a two-out single brought in another run and the Tigers were within 4-3.
The Wildcats picked up two insurance runs in the top of the seventh though, with two outs in the inning. Lexi Moore started the inning with a double, but didn't score until a two-out error. Then Haley Downin reached on another error, allowing Gabriella Saucedo to score and give the Wildcats a 6-4 lead.
A leadoff homer had the Tigers to within 6-4, but then Brooke Koehler picked up two strikeouts and a fly ball to end the game.
Sheehan improved to 11-5 on the year with the win while Koehler picked up her second save of the year.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats didn't waste any time to get moving in game two, scoring seven runs in top of the first. They added a solo run in the second and then five more in the third to put the game away.
The first four batters reached in the top of the first, with Sara Miller hitting a two-run double. Bri Coyle hit a one-out double and then Delani Sheehan delivered the big blow with a three-run homer, her first collegiate blast, to make it 6-0.
Delani Sheehan delivered another RBI single in the top of the second and then capped the third inning with a two-run double to make it five RBI in the game. Haley Downin hit a sacrifice fly to star the scoring in the third and then Sara Miller launched her sixth homer of the year, a two-run shot. The Wildcats led 13-0 after three at-bats.
Kylee Gunkel went 4.1 innings to earn the win and improve to 13-3. She struck out seven while allowing five unearned runs on seven hits and two walks. Renamarie Rocha tossed the final two outs, picking up a strikeout in the process.
Delani Sheehan batted 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, and five RBI. Sara Miller went 3-for-4 2ith a homer, a double, and four RBI, while Bri Coyle batted 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Taylor Gillis was the catalyst atop the lineup, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have one CACC doubleheader left in the regular season and it's on Saturday at Bridgeport. A sweep would clinch the program's first ever CACC Regular Season Championship and the CACC Tournament's top seed. The first pitch at Bridgeport is 12:00 p.m.