NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team is back in the East Region final for the fourth year in a row after the No. 2 seed Wildcats defeated No. 3 Goldey-Beacom, 3-2, on Friday afternoon in the winner's bracket at Asbury Field.
The Lightning attempted a late-game comeback with two runs in the seventh, but the Wildcats (34-16) slammed the door shut to advance out of the winner's bracket and into the East Region 2 Bracket Final.
With the win, the Wildcats will await the winner of No. 3 Goldey-Beacom and No. 7 Southern New Hampshire being played at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Jackson Athletics Complex on the campus of Goldey-Beacom. The Wildcats and the winner will play at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The Wildcats scored all three runs on Friday prior to a two-hour rain delay. Tristyn Stewart was the catalyst in the bottom of the first inning, leading off with a single and moving up to third on an error. Standing on third with two outs, Stewart scored on a Bella Barnes RBI single to center.
Tristyn Stewart sparked a two-run third inning as well, leading off with a single and two stolen bases. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs but only scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch, making it a 3-0 lead.
Maddie Vollmar was cruising through the contest, only allowing one runner to reach base from the second inning through the sixth inning. That was reached on an error and was thrown out trying to steal, so she faced the minimum in five straight innings.
She got the first out of the seventh, but then the Lightning rallied with a double, a single, and an RBI single to get on the board. Vollmar picked up a strikeout for out number two, but another RBI single cut the lead to 3-2 and ended the afternoon for the freshman pitcher. Delani Sheehan came on and induced a ground ball to the first batter she saw, earning the save.
Tristyn Stewat went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Five other Wildcats collected one each hit, including Sydney Hatch hitting a double. Bella Barnes had the only RBI of the game for the Wildcats.
Vollmar went 6.2 innings with four strikeouts for the win, improving to 4-1 on the year. She allowed two runs on four hits and a walk. Sheehan earned her second save of the year with the groundout to end the game.
The Wildcats have now won 19 consecutive games over the Lightning, dating back to the 2018 season.