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NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Strong pitching allowed the Wilmington University softball team to shutout Dominican, 2-0 and 8-0 (6 inn.), and stretch its winning streak to five with a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference sweep on Saturday afternoon at Asbury Field.
GAME 1:
Kylee Gunkel was one out away from her first collegiate no-hitter, throwing a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and three walks. She also tied the WilmU program record with her 69th career victory, tying Caitlyn Whiteside who did from 2016-19.
All the scoring came in the first two innings for the Wildcats. Haley Grygo hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first and Maddie Vollmar squeezed her in for the early 1-0 lead. Cassidy Zelano started the second with a leadoff single and then Emma Zimmerman chased her all the way around with a two-out RBI double for the 2-0 lead.
Gunkel worked out of a two-out bases loaded jam in the second after a walk and two hit-by-pitches, but then didn't have any pressure until the fifth. She worked around two more walks in the fifth, left one on in the sixth, and then got the first two out in the seventh. But a single to left ended the no-hitter before Gunkel got the next batter for the win.
Delani Sheehan and Emma Zimmer hit doubles in the game while Grygo hit the triple and scored.
GAME 2:
Solid pitching was the name of the game again in game two for the Wildcats, as Maddie Vollmar and Delani Sheehan combined for the shutout while only allowing three hits.
Vollmar went the first three before turning it over to Sheehan to close it out. Vollmar struck out three while only allowing two hits. Sheehan went the final three, striking out three while allowing one hit and one walk.
The offense scored in every inning of game two, collecting 12 hits.
Eve Serrato hit a sacrifice fly in the first and Kylie Saienni hit a sacrifice fly in the second to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Vollmar then hit a two-out double in the second to plate another. Cassidy Zelano hit an RBI grounder in the third before Vollmar and Bella Barnes had RBI singles in the fourth, 6-0. Tristyn Stewart hit an RBI single in the fifth and then Eve Serrato ended it with a fielder's choice RBI in the sixth, 8-0.
Maddie Vollmar went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Haley Grygo batted 3-for-3 with two runs. Tristyn Stewart batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sydney Hatch and Kylie Saienni had doubles in the game as well.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats remain in the CACC with another home game on Tuesday, hosting Jefferson for a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is set for 2:30 p.m. at Asbury Field.
