(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - Wilmington College Softball celebrated Senior Day in the best way possible, sweeping Otterbein in a Saturday doubleheader. The Quakers earned a 4-0 shutout in game one before rallying late to secure a 7-6 victory in the nightcap. The sweep marks Wilmington's second straight conference series win. Before the contests, Wilmington celebrated their four seniors, Lauryn Humphrey, Alasandra Spears, Maddie Starnes, and Belle Baughman.
Game 1 – 4-0 Win over Otterbein
Megan Spence worked around a leadoff single in the top of the 1st to get through scoreless. Jocelyn Franz, Alaina Eldridge, and Kymberlin Masino all took three straight walks to load the bases. A fielder's choice put Wilmington in trouble with two outs, and the bases still loaded. Audrey Gildea came through with a 2-RBI single, allowing Ashley Jo Hardesty to score after getting into a rundown. Gildea was tagged out, but all three baserunners scored to put the Quakers up 3-0.
Spence stranded two and navigated around a leadoff single in the top of the 2nd. Maddie Starnes singled in the bottom half but was stranded. The freshman Spence dealt around two hits for another scoreless frame. She retired the side in order in two innings in a row, heading to the bottom of the 5th.
Spears led off the bottom half with a triple off the top of the fence, and Franz reached on a hit by pitch. Otterbein made a move to the bullpen as Masino delivered a sacrifice fly to score Spears, putting Wilmington ahead 4-0.
Otterbein failed to score in the top of the 6th, as the Quakers had two singles but left two on base. Spence delivered a 1-2-3 top of the 7th to secure her complete game shutout in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Cardinals in game one.
Game 1 Notables
-
The freshman Megan Spence dominated en route to her first career complete game shutout. Spence went the distance, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 2 batters.
Game 2 – 7-6 Victory over Otterbein
The Cardinals rallied in the top of the 1st after an interference call was made by the runner on second base. With two outs, the Cardinals hit back-to-back singles to take a 2-0 lead before a bases loaded hit by pitch drove in the third run. Belle Baughman secured the final out with a strikeout.
Wilmington answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half. Alasandra Spears led off with a double and Alaina Eldridge singled her home. On the first pitch she saw, Kymberlin Masino sent a towering home run over the left field fence to tie the game 3-3. Baughman worked around a leadoff single in the top of the 2nd to retire the next three batters in order.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Eldridge crushed a one-out double, and Masino singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Ashley Jo Hardesty roped an RBI single up the middle to score Eldridge. Otterbein brought in a reliever, but Hardesty got into a rundown allowing Masino to score to go ahead 5-3.
Baughman gave up a one-out double before getting the second out. With two outs, the Cardinals slapped a double to cut the deficit to 5-4. Audrey Gildea relieved Baughman and sat the side down in order in the top of the 5th. Jocelyn Franz walked to open the bottom half, but she was stranded.
With two outs in the top of the 6th, the Cardinals singled to put runners on the corner. Stevens misplayed a line drive in center, allowing two runs to score as Otterbein took a 6-5 lead. The Quakers rallied in the bottom of the 6th after Maddie Starnes reached on an error. Hattan singled, putting two runners on base. After making an error in the top half, Stevens roped a line drive to the right center gap, plating both runners and putting the Quakers on top 7-6.
Gildea clutched a 1-2-3 top of the 7th to take the second game 7-6 over the Cardinals, completing the sweep on Senior Day.
Game 2 Notables
-
Audrey Gildea secured the win, improving to 3-5. The freshman went 3.0 innings in relief, allowing one hit, two runs, and a strikeout.
What's Up Next
The Quakers head to Kenyon College for a doubleheader on Tuesday, slated to start at 3:30 P.M.
