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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The 24th ranked Wilmington university softball team ran its winning streak to eight straight with a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep over Felician, 10-4 and 8-0, on Friday afternoon at Asbury Field.
Taylor Gillis collected seven RBI in the doubleheader, including five in the opener alone. Sara Miller hit her 18th career home run in game two, while the Wildcats (15-10, 6-0 CACC) smacked eight extra base hits in the nightcap.
GAME 1:
Both teams scored in their first two at-bats and Felician (7-19, 2-2 CACC) tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the fourth. But the Wildcats broke it open with a five-run fourth inning to win going away.
Felician homered in the top of the first, but the Wildcats answered with a squeeze bunt from Gillis and a two-out RBI double form Eve Serrato. Felician homered again in the top of the second, but Gillis responded with a two-out, two-run single, in the home half, as the Wildcats took the lead, 4-3.
The Golden Falcons tied the game on a two-out error in the top of the fourth, but then the bats got going for the Wildcats. Taylor Gillis stayed hot with an RBI double to left and the Miller tacked on another RBI with a bunt single. Haley Downin pulled one into the corner in left field to score Gabriella Saucedo, capping the scoring for the inning, 9-4.
Starter Kylee Gunkel got a much-needed double play in the top of the fifth as the first two Golden Falcons reached, and then left two more on in the sixth as Tristyn Stewart made a diving play in foul ground on a pop up to the catcher.
Taylor Gillis finished 20for03 with a double and five RBI while Eve Serrato went 2-for-4 with a double. Tristyn Stewart, Lexi Moore, and Julia Thuer all had two hits as well in the game.
GAME 2:
Delani Sheehan struck out the side in the top of the first as she only allowed three hits and a walk in the complete game shutout.
Taylor Gillis collected her sixth RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning, and then Julia Thuer hit a two-out RBI triple to right in the fourth for the 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats then went gap to gap in the fifth inning, putting six on the board to close out the sweep.
Lexi Moore started the fifth with a single and then Taylor Gillis doubled to right center to start the scoring. Sara Miller stepped in and delivered a shot to left center for a two-run homer.
Now with two outs, Bri Coyle restarted a rally with a double to right center and then Julia Thuer, Emma Zimmerman, and Tristyn Stewart all followed with doubles, with Stewart's double chasing Zimmerman home to bring the mercy-rule into effect, 8-0.
Taylor Gillis, Sara Miller, and Julia Thuer finished with two RBI each while Stewart, Moore, and Thuer had two hits each.
UP NEXT:
In a rematch of the last two East Super Regionals, the Wildcats welcome Adelphi to Asbury Field on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m.