Wilmington University clinches share of First CACC Regular Season Title with split versus Bridgeport

Photo: Wilmington University

The Wilmington University softball team picked up a split on Saturday in a doubleheader versus the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights. The Wildcats won the first game 9-0 and lost the second 6-5. Wilmington winning one of its two games on Saturday will earn them at least a share of the CACC Regular Season Championship. It is the first time in WilmU’s NCAA Era that the team will sit atop the CACC standings at the end of the regular season.

SB GM 1 | #25 #WilmUSoftball 9 – Bridgeport 0 (5 inn). WU now 31-10, 21-2 CACC. WP – Gunkel (14-3); CG SHO, 5 K, 4 H, 0 BB. Sara Miller 3-for-3 with 2 2B, 4 RBI. Haley Downin 1-for-3, 2 RBI. Gillis and Moore 2 hits each.

Cats can win CACC regular season outright with Game 2 win

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) April 22, 2023

Let’s talk about their Game one 9-0 win!

Related:

Miller & Moore’s big day helps Wilmington University sweep Post

Game Leaders:

RBIs: Sara Miller would lead the team in RBIs, with four in the win.

Runs: Taylor Gillis, Lexi Moore, and Gabriella Saucedo also led the team in runs, with two in the game.

Hits: Miller would lead the team in hits with three in the win.

Stolen bases: Sara Miller and Tristyn Stewart led the team with one stolen base in the win.

Game Recap:

Wilmington would get the scoring started in the game as the junior pitcher/second baseman Haley Downin hit a two-out, two-run single up the middle of the field to give her team a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats would continue to add to their advantage in the top of the second inning as the team scored four runs on four hits to push the score to 6-0.

Sophomore outfielder Gabriella Saucedo would push in the first run in the inning as she reached first base on an RBI fielder’s choice to take the lead to 3-0.

On the next play, junior third baseman/outfielder Sara Miller would slap a three-run double down the left-field line to expand Wilmington’s edge to 6-0.

Two innings later, WilmU would continue to cushion their lead as they scored three runs on three hits and one error to push the score to 9-0.

Sophomore outfielder Taylor Gillis and Miller would each knock a runner home in the inning, and Gillis would also score on a throwing error by Bridgeport’s left fielder.

Wilmington’s pitching would take it the rest of the way to seal a 9-0 victory over the Purple Knights.

Pitching recap:

Sophomore pitcher Kylee Gunkel had her way with the Bridgeport hitters in this outing, as she went five innings, gave up four hits, struck out five batters, and earned the win.