CACC tournament: Tristyn Stewart’s walk-off double sends Wilmington University to the CACC Championship

Photo: Wilmington University

The Wilmington University softball team is heading to the CACC Championship after defeating the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights in an elimination game. WilmU played in that game because they lost to Georgian Court 5-2 earlier in the day.

SB Final GM 2 | #1 #WilmUSoftball 5 – #4 Bridgeport 4. WU now 37-13. WP – Sheehan (13-6). Sheehan 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Sheehan also 2-for-3 with a triple and a double. Tristyn Stewart 2-for-3 with a walk-off double in bottom 7. Advance to CACC Championship vs. GCU.

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 5, 2023

Related:

CACC Tournament: Wilmington University hangs on for a 3-2 win over Bridgeport

Game Leaders:

RBIs: Delani Sheehan, Tristyn Stewart, Isabella Eleazar, and Haley Downin would lead the team in RBIs with one in the win.

Runs:  Sara Miller,  Sheehan, Danielle Hess, Cassidy Zelano, and Haley Downin also led the team in runs, with one in the game.

Hits: Tristyn Stewart would lead the team in hits, with two in the win.

Game Recap:

Wilmington would get on the scoreboard first in this game as Redshirt sophomore pitcher Delani Sheehan hit a RBI triple to center field, and junior outfielder Isabella Eleazar knocked a RBI single to the shortstop to give their team a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

In the top of the third inning, Bridgeport would answer back by scoring two runs on two hits to tie the game at two.

Madison D’Amato and Gabby Simms would each push their second baserunner in on the day at the top of the fifth inning to give the Purple Knights a 4-2 advantage.

Wildcats would push in one run in the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore outfielder/catcher Tristyn Stewart was caught stealing, which allowed freshman infielder Cassidy Zelano to score and take the score to 4-3.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh inning, where Wilmington was running out on time and outs to come back in this game.

But the Wildcats never stopped fighting as junior pitcher/second baseman Haley Downin would hit an RBI bunt single to first base to tie the game at four.

Two batters later and down to their last out, Tristyn Stewart would come up to the plate and hit a walk-off double to center field to give the Wildcats a 5-4 victory and send them to the Championship.

Pitching recap:

Sophomore pitcher Kylee Gunkel pitched 4.2 innings, gave up three hits, four runs, four earned runs, and two walks.

Pitcher Delani Sheehan relieved Gunkel as she went 2.1 innings, gave up one hit, one walk, struck out one batter, and earned the win.