Video Recap at Bottom of Page
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Two-out runs were the name of the game on Sunday for the No. 22 Wilmington University softball team, as they swept Molloy, 3-1 and 5-4, at Asbury Field to extend its winning streak to 16-straight.
The 16-game winning streak is tied for third among active streaks across the NCAA DII landscape. As of Sunday night, Colorado Mesa is on a 21-game winning streak, Wingate is on a 17-game winning streak, and the Wildcats are tied with Colorado Christian with a 16-game winning streak.
GAME 1:
Leadoff hitter Tristyn Stewart was the catalyst for the offense in game one, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. She set up the first run in the bottom of the first and scored again in the bottom of the fifth.
Kylee Gunkel escaped bases loaded jams in both the first and second innings with minimal damage, only allowing one run on a walk in the second frame. She only allowed one base runner from the third inning and on, a one-out single that was left stranded at first base in the fourth inning.
Stewart singled to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second, and was standing on third with one out. Sam Freeland chopped one in front of the plate, high and slow enough for her to reach on a single and for Stewart to score. Now with two outs, Freeland stole second and Taylor Gillis singled into right for the 2-0 lead.
The bats were silenced until the fifth inning, as Sam Freeland came up with another two-out RBI. With Stewart on second, Freeland dropped one in front of the left fielder and the speedy Stewart raced home for the 3-1 lead.
Gunkel then set down the final six Lion batters to finish off the complete game and move to 11-4 on the year.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats trailed 3-1 and 4-3 in the nightcap but fought back in the home half of each inning the Lions scored. They answered a three-run top of the fourth with two in the home half and then scored two in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead, 5-4.
A two-out error allowed the Wildcats to break the ice in the bottom of the third as Stewart scored her third run of the afternoon. The Lions answered with a three-run top of the fourth, getting three runs on four hits off starter Delani Sheehan. Brooke Koehler came on and got out of a bases loaded jam with a foul out and fly ball to keep the damage to a minimum.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the fourth, starting with two outs and the bases empty. Haley Downin started with a single to right. Isabella Eleazar then drove Downin in with a double to the right field corner and Julia Thuer tied the game, 3-3, with another RBI double.
Haley Downin came on to pitch in the fifth, getting out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam with only allowing one run. The offense answered in the bottom half.
Lexi Moore started the rally with a one-out single and stole base. Sam Freeland then singled through the right side, scoring Moore with the tying run, 4-4. Now with two outs and two on, Downin reached on a dropped popup to the shortstop, allowing Freeland to score the go-ahead run.
Downin pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning before turning it back over to Sheehan for the seventh. Sheehan went 1-2-3 as well, earning her first save of the season.
Tristyn Stewart extended her hitting streak to 15 straight by going 1-for-4. Julia Thuer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and was robbed of more on a nice play by the centerfielder. Downin picked up her first win of the year in the circle.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats make the short trip to Goldey-Beacom on Monday to battle the second-place Lightning. The first pitch of the CACC doubleheader is set for 1:00 p.m.
