WILMINGTON, Del. - - The 22nd ranked Wilmington University softball team mashed 25 hits in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep of crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom, 9-1 (6 inn.) and 9-1 (6 inn.), on Monday afternoon at the Jackson Complex.
The sweep extends the Wildcats' winning streak to 18 consecutive games, now the second longest active winning streak in NCAA Division II before Colorado Mesa's 21-game winning streak.
GAME 1:
The offense didn't break out until the fifth inning, but at the end of the game, the Wildcats (25-10, 10-0 CACC) scored nine runs on 14 hits against the Lightning (16-21, 6-3 CACC).
More two-out runs came for the Wildcats on Monday, as Julia Thuer started the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the second. Gabriella Saucedo put down a bunt in the top of the third to score a second run, but that's all the Wildcats would get until the fifth.
Sara Miller nearly widened the margin on one swing in the fifth, crushing a ball to centerfield with the bases loaded, but the Lightning tracked it down up against the fence, resulting in a sacrifice fly. Taylor Gillis followed with a double to left center to score the other two runners on and make it a 5-0 lead. Bri Coyle added an RBI single while Thuer hit another sacrifice fly and the Wildcats were on top, 7-0.
Tristyn Stewart put her speed on display in the sixth, hitting a liner over the head of a drawn in centerfielder, racing around for an inside the park home run. Sara Miller tacked on an RBI single in the inning as well.
The Lightning hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth, ending the shutout bid for Kylee Gunkel. But Gunkel improved to 12-4 with the win, allowing one run on three hits.
Tristyn Stewart went 3-for-4 with a homer, three stolen bases, and three runs scored. Lexi Moore, Gabriella Saucedo, Taylor Gillis, and Sam Freeland all had two hits as well. The Wildcats had 14 hits in the game.
GAME 2:
The nightcap saw the Wildcats score early in the contest, scoring six runs in the first, and then single runs in the second, third, and sixth innings.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the first with only one out, allowing Taylor Gillis to hit another double to left center, plating all three runners. Now with two outs, Eve Serrato hit a two-run double and Tristyn Stewart hit an RBI single as the Wildcats batted around in the inning. The hit extended Stewart's hitting streak to 17 straight games.
Sam Freeland hit a two-out RBI double in the second and Lexi Moore hit a two-out RBI single in the third as the Wildcats led 8-0.
Goldey-Beacom hit a homer to leadoff the fourth inning, but that would be the only hiccup for Delani Sheehan as she improved to 12-5 on the year.
Isabella Eleazar added another two-out RBI for the Wildcats in the sixth inning, plating Cassidy Zelano with a double to settle the score, 9-1.
Tristyn Stewart, Lexi Moore, and Taylor Gillis all had two hits with Gillis going 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI. The Wildcats had 11 hits in game two.
UP NEXT:
The busy week continues for the Wildcats, as they now travel to West Chester on Tuesday to continue their suspended doubleheader from the end of March. The Wildcats are leading game one of the doubleheader, picking it up in the bottom of the third frame. The first pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.