TAMPA, Fla. - - The strong pitching of third ranked Tampa was too tough to crack for the sixth ranked Wilmington University softball team, dropping a hard-fought doubleheader, 2-1 (8 inn.) and 5-0, on Saturday afternoon at Naimoli Field.
GAME 1:
After a scoreless first five innings, each team was able to strike in the sixth before settling the game in extra innings.
Tristyn Stewart started the top of the sixth with her third hit of the game. Now with two outs, Stewart took off for second, sliding in with a stolen base. Delani Sheehan than lined one over the head of the shortstop, allowing Stewart to score for the 1-0 lead.
But the Spartans answered right back, using their own two-out magic. Three straight singles with two outs and no one on produced the tying run. A walk loaded the bases but Sheehan induced a comebacker to the circle for the final out of the inning.
Kasey Xenidis reached to start the top of the eighth on an error, but the Spartans erased the runner with a line drive double play. They then got a one-out single, stolen base, and two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 2-1 victory.
Delani Sheehan went all 7.2 innings, striking out three while allowing two runs on eight hits. Tristyn Stewart went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and run score while Haley Grygo, Sheehan, and Eve Serrato all had hits.
GAME 2:
Baserunners were hard to come by for the Wildcats in the nightcap, as Tampa's pitcher Mariah Galhouse tossed a five-hit shutout.
A bunt and a triple put Tampa on the board in the bottom of the first and then they added two runs in the third and fifth innings. Tampa had nine hits to the Wildcats' five.
The Wildcats had a chance in the fourth inning, getting hits from Haley Grygo and Delani Sheehan and an error to load the bases with two outs. But they escaped the jam with a grounder.
The Wildcats had another shot in the seventh, getting singles from Cassidy Zelano and Maddie Vollmar. But a double play halted the rally as Tampa closed out the inning to earn the sweep.
Haley Grygo went 2-for-3 while Sheehan, Zelano, and Vollmar all had hits. Kylee Gunkel went the first 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. Maddie Vollmar came on for the final 1.2 innings.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats have another pair of neutral site games on Sunday, playing against Grand Valley State and Saint Anselm. Action begins at 9:00 a.m. at Legends Way in Clermont, Florida.
