Postgame Interviews with Mike Shehorn, Julia Thuer, and Delani Sheehan
LONGWOOD, Fla. - - The key hit with runners on base went missing for the third-seeded Wilmington University softball team as the Wildcats left nine runners on base in dropping a 2-1 contest to sixth-seeded Western Washington in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball Championships on Sunday night at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.
The Wildcats (45-15) collected 10 hits and had the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings but could only bring one run home. Western Washington (49-9) picked up both of their runs in the top of the third as Kylee Gunkel and Delani Sheehan otherwise held them down. The Wildcats were victim of two challenges in the seventh that didn't go their way as well.
Lexi Moore started the bottom of the first with a one-out single and a two stolen bases but was left at third after a strikeout and a fly out. Western Washington struck first in the top of the third, as a leadoff single came around to score on a one-out double. Another two-out double brought in the second run as the Vikings led, 2-0.
Emma Zimmerman started the bottom of the third with a double and Julia Thuer followed with a single to put two runners on. Lexi Moore reached with one out to load the bases but then a strikeout put Wilmington in a bind again. Sara Miller laced a two-out ball back up the middle, but the pitcher got a glove on it to knock it down. She beat out the play at first to bring in Bella Eleazar, but the trailing runner Cassidy Zelano was gunned down at the plate trying to sneak home.
The Wildcats left a runner on in the fourth and fifth innings, running into bad luck again in the fifth. Taylor Gillis laced a ball to first, but right at the first baseman who stepped on the bag for an inning-ending double play.
The Wildcats then loaded the bases in the sixth without an out. The Vikings induced a comebacker to the circle, picked up a strikeout, and then Julia Thuer squared a ball but right at the center fielder as Western Washington escaped the jam.
Trystin Stewart led off the inning with a single and had second base stolen, but after a video challenge, was ruled to have left first base early and was called out. Lexi Moore restarted the inning with a single and a stolen base, standing on second as the tying run. Sara Miller chopped one to second and nearly beat it out, but the call on the field was confirmed as out after a video challenge to end the game.
Lexi Moore went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases while Julia Thuer picked up two base hits as well. Kylee Gunkel took the tough luck loss, falling to 22-6 on the year.
The Wildcats drop to the elimination bracket and will now play No. 7 Augustana (S.D.) on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
