WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College softball team split a home-opening twinbill with Bluffton University on Wednesday, falling 5-4 in game one and taking game two 11-3 in six innings.
In game one, the Beavers got to WC starter Izzy Rothrock for three hits that scored two runs in the top of the first and two more in the second on three walks and a single hit from Bobbi Adams. The Quakers did load the bases with no outs in the first, but two fielder's choice groundouts and a flyout ended the threat.
Wilmington got on the scoreboard in the third when a Logann Julian triple to left field plated Judaea Wilson, who singled to begin the inning. The Quakers nearly scored another run, but Julian was called out at home plate to complete a double play and end the inning. Bluffton got the run back utilizing a WC error in the fourth and held the 5-1 lead into the fifth.
The Quakers put together a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Amy Emswiler drew a walk to begin the frame and around to score on a Mollie Moore double to right center. The hosts plated another run on a Julian single and added a third on an RBI-fielder's choice from Samantha Schwab to pull within a run. A strikeout ended the inning, however, and prevented WC from tying the game.
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning, Wilmington got multiple runners into scoring position, but once again, a strikeout ended the threat. Schwab singled with two outs in the seventh, but a groundout gave the Beavers the one-run victory.
Erin Norman improved to 5-2 on the year for Bluffton, allowing four earned runs in four innings. Grace Fillinger finished the game for the visitors and earned the three-inning save, her first of the season. Rothrock dipped to 1-1 as the sophomore allowed four earned runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Avree Entler finished the game in the circle for WC, striking out three and scattering four hits in 4.2 innings.
Bobbi Adams finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs for Bluffton while Sydney Zinkon also had a multi-hit game. Wilmington, which outhit Bluffton 10-8, got three-hit efforts from both Wilson and Julian with Julian driving in two runs. Olivia Doll also had two hits in the game.
In the nightcap, both teams were nearly retired in order until the bottom of the third when the Quakers' offense exploded. WC tallied eight runs on seven hits with five of those coming from a double from Julian and a triple from Carter.
Bluffton added two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth, but Wilmington ended the game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI-single from McKenna Archey.
Alexis Stringfellow earned the four-inning victory, striking out three and allowing four hits with two earned runs. Hillary Huffer hurled the final two innings for the Quakers. For Bluffton, Fillinger fell to 3-2 on the season going 2.1 innings and surrendering four earned runs.
Wilmington pounded out 14 hits with Lindsey Carter going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Archey finished 3-for-4 while Wilson and Doll also had multi-hit contests. Adams and Julia Tegeder finished 2-for-3 for Bluffton in defeat.
The Quakers (9-5) will head to Ohio Wesleyan University for a doubleheader on Saturday.
