2023 NCAA DIVISION II EAST 2 REGIONAL: Gunkel’s complete game shutout earns Wilmington University a spot in the finals

Photo: Wilmington University

The Wilmington University softball team earned a spot in the NCAA Division II East Region 2 Final by defeating the Georgian Court University Lions on Friday 5-0. The Wildcats will face the Lions again at 11 am ET.

SB Final | #2 #WilmUSoftball 5 – #3 Georgian Court 0. WU now 41-13. WP – Gunkel (21-5); CG SHO, 3 K, 4 H, 1 BB. Sara Miller 3-for-4. Haley Downin 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI. Jess Reed with 2 RBI. WU into the East Region 2 Final tomorrow at 12.

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 12, 2023

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

Game Leaders:

RBIs: Jess Reed would lead the team in RBIs with two in the win.

Runs: Haley Downin also led the team in runs, with three in the game.

Hits: Haley Downin would lead the team in hits, with three in the win.

Stolen Bases:  Sara Miller and Danielle Hess each stole a base in the win.

Game Recap:

Sophomore designated player Jess Reed would get the scoring started for the Wildcats, as she hit an RBI single through the right side of the field to give her team a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

In the next inning, Wilmington would score two runs on two to take the score to 3-0.

Sophomore catcher/third baseman Emma Zimmerman would step up the plate with bases loaded and push a run in when she was issued a walk to give her team a 2-0 edge in the third inning.

Two plays later, junior pitcher/second baseman Haley Downin would score on a wild pitch to bring WilmU’s advantage to 3-0.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Wildcats would continue to cushion their lead as they scored two runs on two hits to take the score to 5-0.

Haley Downin would score the first run of the inning when she slapped a double to left center field to give her team a 4-0 lead.

Three batters later, Jess Reed would push a run home when she hit a sacrifice fly to give WilmU a 5-0 edge.

Wilmington’s pitching would do the rest to seal a 5-0 win over Georgian Court.

Pitching recap:

Sophomore pitcher Kylee Gunkel had the Georgian Court batters dazed and confused all day as she threw a complete game shutout by going seven innings, giving up four hits, one walk, hitting one batter, striking out three batters, and earning the win.

Gunkel broke the program’s pitching win record with the victory, as she stands at 21-5 on the season.

Kylee Gunkel breaks the @WilmUSoftball pitcher's win record with a complete game shutout against Georgian Court in the winner's bracket of the NCAA East 2 Regional… she is now 21-5. Check out the game highlights here: https://t.co/zoNSbWhr9m

— Wilmington Wildcats (@WilmUAthletics) May 12, 2023