WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College softball team salvaged a series with John Carroll University (JCU) by winning the final game to earn a twinbill split at the WC Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Streaks won game one 4-0 while the Fightin' Quakers won game two 7-3.
In game one, the Fightin' Quakers' offensive woes with runners in scoring position continued from Saturday's doubleheader in University Heights as Wilmington went hitless in seven at bats with a runner in scoring position. The Blue Streaks plated three runs on four hits in the third and added an insurance run in the fourth. Coincidentally, JCU's final run total mirrored each of the first two games of the series.
Katie DeBord earned her fifth win of the season, scattering eight hits over six innings with four strikeouts and no earned runs. Madison Eagle came in for the final inning for JCU. Suchland took the loss allowing three earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. Lindsey Carter finished the final 4.2 innings for the hosts, allowing a single unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts.
Offensively, Lizz Hadley and McKenna Archey had multi-hit games for the Quakers while Gracie Bressoud and Crista Nativio had two hits each for the Blue Streaks.
In the nightcap, JCU scored a run in the first, but Wilmington cured its two-out hitting woes in the bottom half of the inning. Arianna Layne walked and was hit to third by a double to left field from Carter. Alecia Kemp walked and Layne scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Hadley, the next batter, singled to shortstop to give the hosts a 2-1 lead after one complete.
The Blue Streaks failed to score in the top of the second, and Suchland singled home Andrea Edmisten with two outs in the second. Neither team scored in the third, and Carter doubled the host's advantage has her double to left field scored Suchland and Megan Crager to make the score 5-1.
JCU would get a single run in each of the last two innings, but both were mitigated by RBI-singles from Kemp and Hadley.
Starter Alexis Stringfellow improved to 8-4 on the season, scattering 10 hits over seven innings with three earned runs. Danielle Orendi dropped to 2-7 allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits with six walks and three strikeouts.
Offensively, Suchland and Crater each had three-hit games for Wilmington with all three of Carter's hits being doubles. Less Lichota led JCU in defeat with a 2-for-3 performance.
The Quakers (16-16, 15-13 OAC) face the University of Mount Union for a series next weekend.
