BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - - In a rematch of last year's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship, the Wilmington University softball team split with Bridgeport in the first conference games of the season. Bridgeport held on in game one, 6-5, before the Wildcats took the nightcap, 5-3, at Seaside Park.
GAME 1:
A late rally fell short for the Wildcats (8-12, 1-1 CACC), having the tying run stranding in scoring position in the top of the seventh. The Wildcats scored three in the top of the sixth and one more in the seventh, but couldn't complete the comeback, 6-5.
Eve Serrato put the Wildcats on top in the top of the second inning, hitting her first home run of the season for the 1-0 lead. The Purple Knights (11-7, 1-1 CACC) answered in the bottom of the third with five runs. They scored with a double, a homer, and two bases loaded walks.
Trailing 6-1, the Wildcats started a rally with two outs in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Serrato doubled down the right field line, chasing all three runners home to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Maddie Vollmar started the seventh with a double and came home on a squeeze play by Emma Zimmerman. The Wildcats had two on with two outs, but the Wildcats couldn't bring the tying run home as Bridgeport survived.
Eve Serrato went 2-for-3 with four RBI in the game while Haley Grygo went 2-for-3 with a triple.
GAME 2:
Bridgeport struck first in the nightcap, scoring two in the bottom of the first. But it was the Wildcats' turn to retaliate for the split.
With two outs and two on in the top of the top of the second, Emma Zimmerman hit a two-run single to give the Wildcats the lead. Gracie Mabrey hit a sacrifice fly for the 3-1 lead and then Cassidy Zelano followed through with an RBI single and the Wildcats were leading 4-2 in the third.
Bridgeport scored on an RBI triple in the third but then Delani Sheehan left two on in the fifth and one more on in the seventh to close out the win. She struck out six while allowing three runs on six hits.
Eve Serrato went 2-for-4 with two double while Maddie Vollmar batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Emma Zimmerman went 2-for-2 with two RBI while Gracie Mabrey had two RBI as well.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return home for their next contests, as they welcome Goldey-Beacom to Asbury Field on Wednesday afternoon. The CACC doubleheader is set to start at 2:30 p.m.