HANOVER, IN – The Wilmington College softball team fell via the run-rule and then in extra innings to Hanover in non-conference action. The Fightin' Quakers fell 11-2 in five innings in the opener, and then lost 10-9 in eight innings.
Wilmington (5-15) returns to Ohio Athletic Conference action 1 p.m. Saturday, hosting John Carroll.
GAME ONE: HANOVER 11, WILMINGTON 2 (5 INNINGS)
Hanover did all of its damage in two innings, scoring four runs in the first inning and seven in the fourth to post the victory.
Wilmington had runners in scoring position in all five innings, but went just 1-for-6 in that situation. The lone hit came in the fifth inning, a two-run home run by senior Jess Clutter (Englewood, OH/Northmont). The designated player registered one of Wilmington's three hits.
Freshmen Savannah Hooper (Leesburg, OH/Wilmington) and Chandler Fields (Delaware, OH/Rutherford B. Hayes) each had singles.
Sophomore Kerrie Trautman (Hartville, OH/Field) took the loss, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 3 1/3 innings on eight hits. She finished with two walks and no strikeouts.
GAME TWO: HANOVER 10, WILMINGTON 9 (8 INNINGS)
The Panthers scored with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome a five-run deficit, and earn the sweep. Wilmington is now 1-2 in extra innings.
Savannah Hooper started the five-run first with a one-out triple, and scored on a Trautman single. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases, and Fields brought home a run with a single. Wilmington made it 3-0 as Clutter scored on a passed ball.
Freshman Sawyer Hooper (Leesburg, OH/Wilmington) doubled home freshman Emily Smith (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook), and a single by sophomore Ashley McCray (Vandalia, OH/Butler) brought home Fields to wrap the scoring.
Hanover got one of those runs back in the first, but WC added two more in the second as Smith doubled home a run and Fields singled home another. Smith picked up another RBI on a ground out to score Trautman in the fourth inning, and Wilmington lead 8-1.
With two runs in the fourth and five runs in the sixth, Hanover knotted the game.
Both teams scored on two-out errors in the seventh inning before Hanover won the game in the eighth.
Every Wilmington starter got a hit in the second game as WC pounded out 18 hits. Savannah Hooper, Smith and Fields all had three hits –all career highs. Savannah Hooper was 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored, while Smith was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Fields finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.
Sawyer Hooper had her first multi-hit game of her career, going 2-for-5 with a double and RBI. Trautman and Clutter both had two hits with two runs scored.
Freshman Beth Persicano (Knoxville, TN/Cincinnati Turpin) took the loss, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on 15 hits in 7 2/3 innings. She added three strikeouts with three walks.