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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The top-seeded and 17th ranked Wilmington University softball team rolled through the first game of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Thursday, blitzing No. 4 Bloomfield, 9-1, in five innings at Asbury Field.
With the win, the Wildcats (38-13) move on in the winner's bracket and will face No. 2 Bridgeport on Friday starting at 11:00 a.m. Bridgeport defeated Goldey-Beacom, 6-1, in the second game on Thursday.
Bloomfield came out and scored in the top of the first, but then it was all Wilmington, as they scored five in the first, three in and second, and one more in the fourth to put the mercy rule into effect.
The Wildcats brought 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, as Tristyn Stewart and Lexi Moore started the frame with singles. Gabriella Saucedo plated the tying run with a squeeze bunt and then Sara Miller singled past the shortstop to make it 2-1. Taylor Gillis doubled to put two runners in scoring position before Sam Freeland beat out a hot shot to the first baseman, scoring another run. Haley Downin found grass in left field for an RBI single and then Emma Zimmerman singled into the right, bringing in Downin to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
One big blast highlighted the second inning, a record-breaking homer off the bat of Sara Miller. Lexi Moore and Gabriella Saucedo started the second with singles and then Miller greeted the Bears' reliever by launching a three-run shot deep over the fence in left center on the first pitch for the 8-1 lead. It was Miller's 23rd career home run, breaking the WilmU all-time program record.
Starter Delani Sheehan settled into the contest after the first inning, allowing one hit between the second, third, and fourth innings.
Sara Miller added a double in the fourth, and then came home on a two-out RBI single by Sam Freeland to put the mercy-rule into effect, 9-1.
Sheehan allowed a two-out single I the top of the fifth, but then a ground ball ended the contest, 9-1, in five innings. Sheehan improved to 15-7 on the year with the win.
Sara Millers went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, and four RBI while Sam Freeland went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Lexi Moore also had two hits in the game.
The Wildcats and Purple Knights kick-start a pair of CACC Tournament games at Asbury Field on Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
