
WILMINGTON, Del. - - Three runs in the bottom of the seventh saw No. 3 Goldey-Beacom storm back to steal a 3-2 victory from the No. 2 Wilmington University softball team in the NCAA DII East Region 2 Final on Saturday afternoon at the Jackson Athletic Complex.
With the win, the Lightning force a game seven in the East Region 2 Bracket, as the two teams will square off for the seventh time this season on Sunday. The winner will advance to the NCAA Division II East Super Region Series.
Gracie Mabrey started the fourth inning with a single and a stolen base. Now with two outs and Mabrey on third, Maddie Vollmar chopped one down the third base line. The throw got by the first baseman, allowing Mabrey to score and Vollmar to jump to second. Sydney Hatch then dumped one into left as Vollmar raced home for the 2-0 lead.
Kylee Gunkel had little trouble through the first four innings, working out of a two-out jam in the second and left two more on in the fourth. Delani Sheehan came on and only allowed a two-out single in her first two innings.
The Lightning started the seventh with a single. Sheehan got the first out before another single put two runners on. A third single scored the first run and then a double just inside the right field line tied the game, 2-2, and put runners on second and third. Maddie Vollmar came on and induced a ground ball with the bases loaded, but the throw to the plate was off the mark and Goldey-Beacom walked off with the win, 3-2.
Tristyn Stewart had two hits while Gracie Mabrey, Sydney Hatch, and Emma Zimmerman each had one hit. The final game of the East Region 2 bracket will take place on Sunday with an 11:00 a.m. first pitch.