2023 NCAA Division II East 2 Regional: Miller’s home run sends Wilmington University past Pace

Photo: Wilmington University

The Wilmington University softball team is moving on to the winner’s bracket of the 2023 NCAA Division II East 2 Regional after defeating the Pace University Setters 2-1. The Wildcats will take on Georgian Court on Friday at 10 am ET.

A play at the plate in the top of the 7th and #WilmUSoftball hangs on! Wildcats defeat Pace, 2-1, to advance to the winners bracket… will play Georgian Court Friday morning at 10 am.

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 11, 2023

Related:

Wilmington University sweeps Georgian Court to be crowned CACC CHAMPIONS!

Game One Leaders:

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

Runs: Tristyn Stewart and Sara Miller also led the team in runs, with one in the game.

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

Home Runs: Miller hit a home run in the game.

Stolen Bases: Taylor Gillis and Tristyn Stewart each stole a base in the win.

Game Recap:

Wilmington would get on the scoreboard first in this game as junior third baseman/outfielder Sara Miller hit a two-out, two-run homer to right center to give her team a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The third-inning homer would be Miller’s 10th of the season which would tie her with former Wildcat Annie Davila for the most in a single season. She also broke the school’s single-season record in RBIs with 62 by surpassing Lauren Lopez’s total.

Sara Miller with a 2 run bomb to right center!!!! 2-0 #WilmUSoftball AND that homer ties the single season record with 10 AND breaks the programs single season RBI record… Now with 62!!

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 11, 2023

Fast forward to the top of the fifth inning, where Pace’s Arianna Guarracino hit an RBI double to cut the score to 2-1.

Two innings later, The Setters would have two players on base, but their momentum stopped when WilmU’s defense made a terrific play to end the game with a 2-1 win.

pic.twitter.com/ctGgDY5fnO

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 11, 2023

Pitching recap:

Sophomore pitcher Kylee Gunkel had a solid outing by going five innings, giving up three hits, one run, one earned run, one walk, four strikeouts, and earning the win.

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Delani Sheehan relived Gunkel, as she went two innings, gave up three hits, two strikeouts, and earned the save.