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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - For the second year in a row, the Wilmington University softball team is the NCAA Division II East Region 2 Tournament Champions, as the Wildcats defeated Georgian Court, 4-1, on Saturday at Asbury Field.
The win sets up a rematch with Adelphi in the Super Regional series, as Adelphi defeated Bentley, 4-3, on Saturday in the East Region 1 Tournament. More details about the Super Regional series will be released later this weekend. Adelphi won the series, 2-1, last year after the Wildcats won game one.
It was a three-run sixth inning that propelled the Wildcats over the Lions for the sixth time this season. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs in the inning and then Haley Downin beat the throw to the plate off a chopper from Jess Reed to start the scoring and break a 1-1 tie. Taylor Gillis then stepped in and delivered a two-run single to right and the Wildcats were ahead 4-1.
Delani Sheehan came on in relief in the top of the fifth and recorded an out before Georgian Court tied the game with a two-out single back up the middle, 1-1. Brooke Koehler came on for Sheehan and finished the game, dominating in the circle.
The freshman hurler struck out the side in the top of the sixth to allow the Wildcat bats to take over and score the three runs. She then struck out the first batter of the seventh, induced a fly ball to center for the second out, and two batters later got a fly ball to left to start the celebration. She improved to 4-2 on the year with the win in relief.
Gabriella Saucedo started the scoring for the Wildcats with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the third inning. Kylee Gunkel started the game and went 4.1 innings, allowing three walks and three hits in the no decision.
Taylor Gillis, Gabriella Saucedo, and Haley Downin all had two hits in the win.
The Wildcats and Lions squared off seven times this season, with Wilmington going 6-1 overall.
