ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - Sara Miller's two-run blast in game two helped the 25th ranked Wilmington University softball team to a nonconference split with Molloy on Sunday afternoon, losing the opener, 7-2, before winning the nightcap, 2-1, at the RVC Sports Complex.
Both the Wildcats (32-12) and Molloy (25-16) are in consideration for the first official NCAA Division II Regional Rankings coming out this week.
GAME 1:
After the Wildcats opened the scoring in the top of the first, Molloy scored five straight runs to lead, 5-1, after five innings. They added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the opener.
Haley Downin hit a two-out single up the middle that scored Lexi Moore in the top of the first. The ball got away from the catcher on the play and Sara Miller tried to score behind Moore, but the Lions made the play at the plate to escape the inning with only one run scored against them.
The Lions tied the game with a homer in the bottom of the second and then took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the third. A two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth gave the Lions a 5-1 lead, plating a pair of unearned runs.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the sixth, but was only able to plate one run with the bases loaded and one out.
Game one starter Delani Sheehan went 4.2 innings while allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits. Renamarie Rocha went the final 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
The Wildcats had eight hits, but only one extra-base hit. Taylor Gillis went 3-for-4 while Lexi Moore went 2-for-3. Haley Downin and Tristyn Stewart each had RBI in the game. Sara Miller hit a double in the loss.
GAME 2:
Starting pitchers Kylee Gunkel and Brianna Macias were looked in a tight match in the nightcap, with the offenses only combining for nine hits and three runs.
Macias set the Wildcats down in order the first time through the lineup and Gunkel only faced 10 batters through the first three innings.
Taylor Gillis singled to lead off the fourth, but she was left stranded at third as Sara Miller lined out to second. The Wildcats left two runners on in the top of the fifth, but finally cracked through in the sixth.
With two outs and the bases empty, Gabriella Saucedo singled to left. Sara Miller stepped in and launched her seventh homer of the season to left, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Kylee Gunkel left a two-out single on first in the sixth, but the Lions ended the shutout with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the seventh. But Gunkel didn't let the tying run reach base, getting two fly balls and a punchout to end the game. Gunkel improved to 15-4 on the season.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have one doubleheader remaining in the regular season, as they head to Kutztown on Wednesday to prepare for the postseason. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.