NAPLES, Florida – The Wilmington College softball team's spring trip record stands at 6-2 after a 16-8 victory over Alfred State University (New York) in six innings and a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the University of Wisconsin-Superior at the Gene Cusic Classic on Wednesday.
In the win over Pioneers, the Quakers took advantage of an error to plate four unearned runs on four hits in the second. Mollie Moore, Judaea Wilson and Logann Julian all notched RBI-singles with the other run coming off of a wild pitch. After being held scoreless the first two innings, the Alfred State offense came alive. The Pioneers plated two runs in four consecutive innings to take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
From there, however, everything came undone for Alfred State. Wilmington, which was held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, exploded offensively by pound out 10 hits and scoring 11 runs to end the game in the sixth inning.
Hillary Huffer improved to 2-2 on the season with the victory in relief, hurling 36 pitches in 1.2 innings with two strikeouts. Aiyana Hancock received a no-decision by allowing four earned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. Audrey Farrell, which had allowed just one earned run through five innings took the loss in a 161-pitch effort.
Wilmington pounded out 19 hits with a quartet of Quakers – Wilson, Julian, Lindsey Carter and Samantha Schwab – finished with three-hit contests while Julian and Schwab combined for seven RBIs. Nicole Youngberg went 3-for-3 with four RBIs for the Pioneers in defeat.
In the loss to the Yellow Jackets, WC once again used the second inning to take an early lead. Schwab scored on a wild pitch, and Cassidy Luttrell delivered a two-RBI single to center field with two outs that scored both Rachel Berry and Olivia Doll. Doll then singled to center field scoring Julian in the third, but Tiffany Kirk cut the UW-Superior deficit in half with a two-RBI single to left field.
Two innings later, the Yellow Jackets, who were looking to avenge a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Quakers a season ago, took a 5-4 lead with a three-run fifth inning. A scoreless sixth from both teams followed, and UW-Superior looked to have the game won, but a defensive error at shortstop that would have ended the game scored the tying run for WC. The Quakers couldn't get the game to extra innings, however, as Tayler Kramer singled via a bunt to open the seventh, advanced from first to third on a sacrifice, and scored the game-winning run the following at bat.
Avree Entler dipped to 1-1 on the season allowing six earned runs on a dozen hits in 6.1 innings while Kraemer improved to 4-2 on the mound with a seven-strikeout performance.
Schwab and Doll had two hits each for WC while Kraemer went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for UW-Superior.
Wilmington (6-4) will close out is spring trip with games against Lesley College (Massachusetts) and Westfield State University (Connecticut) at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. respectively on Thursday.
