LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - A 12-game winning streak came to an end in game two on Wednesday as the Wilmington University softball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Georgian Court, taking the opener 6-1 before a walk-off sank the Wildcats, 6-5, in the nightcap.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats struck early and often in the opener, getting home runs from Bella Barnes and Emma Zimmerman in the first two innings.
The five runs in the first two at-bats was more than enough for starter Kylee Gunkel, as she went the distance and only allowing a tun on five hits with two strikeouts.
Tristyn Stewart started it all with a single and a stolen base in the top of the first. She was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cassidy Zelano and then scored on a passed ball for the first run. Bella Barnes then hit a two-run homer, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Sydney Hatch started the second with a single and was quickly brought home as Emma Zimmerman launched a homer to left center, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
Stewart added a two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth and the rest was up to Gunkel.
Gunkel left the bases loaded in the fifth but the Lions scratched across a run int eh sixth with a two-out base hit. She then set the Lions down in order in the seventh.
Stewart batted 3-for-4 with two stolen bases. Sydney Hatch went 2-for-3 while Barnes and Zimmerman had a homer and two RBI each.
GAME 2:
The Wildcats battled back late in the nightcap, but the Lions had the last say, hitting a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to take the 6-5 victory.
The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the third with a two-out, two-run single, but the Wildcats answered right back with two runs in the fourth. Delani Sheehan walked to force in a run and then Sydney Hatch was hit by a pitch to tie the game.
Georgian Court regained the lead in the fifth with two runs, but then the Wildcats answered again. Emma Zimmerman cut the deficit in half with a two-out RBI single int eh sixth and then they took the lead in the seventh. Maddie Vollmar sparked the inning with a one-out single and stolen base. Vollmar and Barnes then stole second and third and Haley Grygo tied the game with an RBI groundout. Now with two ours, Eve Serrato gave the Wildcats the lead with a double, scoring Barnes.
But the Lions wouldn't be held down, as an error, a single, and a double ended the game, 6-5.
Eve Serrato went 3-for-4 with a double while Bella Barned batted 2-for-3 with two runs in the nightcap.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats' week continues on Thursday as they travel to Adelphi for a nonconference doubleheader. They Wildcats and Panthers begin game one at 2:00 p.m.