WILMINGTON DOWNS SOFTBALL IN EXTRA INNINGS, 4-2

CAPE CORAL, Fla. –Wilmington College posted a 4-2 win over Emmanuel College in 10 innings of softball action during both squads' final contest of spring break softball action at the Gene Cusic Softball Classic. With the loss the Saints wrap up their trip with a 5-3 record while the win lifts the Fightin' Quakers to 4-6.

A two-RBI single up the middle by freshman Chandler Fields (Delaware, Ohio) gave Wilmington a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the tenth inning and freshman pitcher Beth Persicano (Knoxville, Ten.) preserved the win retiring the side in order.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the ninth inning, an RBI infield single by junior Hillary Daria-White (Bethel, Ohio) gave WC a temporary 2-1 but EC tied the game in the bottom half with a sac fly by junior outfield Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) to make it 2-2.

After four scoreless frames, Wilmington found the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fifth to take a 1-0 lead. Daria-White led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Sawyer Hooper (Leesburg, Ohio) and came around to score on an RBI double down the left field line by rookie shortstop Whitney Edwards (Frankford, Ky.).

The Saints threatened in the bottom half of the inning drawing back-to-back walks to start the inning by Halas and junior shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.). Vulpis moved them over with a sacrifice bunt but EC stranded both runners in scoring position as sophomore pitcher Kerrie Trautman (Hartville, OH) worked her way out of the jam.

In the sixth, the Fightin' Quakers looked to add to the lead as senior Allie Noggle (Ashville, Ohio) singled with one out before freshman Emily Smith (Bellbrook, Ohio) ripped a double to the centerfield fence. Trying to score from first, Noggle was thrown out at the plate to keep the score at 1-0.

Emmanuel tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth on an infield RBI single by pinch hitter Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.). Sophomore first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) led off the frame with a single that was lost in the sun and replaced at first by sophomore pinch runner Cassey LePage (Somerset, Mass.). After being sacrificed over to second, LePage advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on Madden's RBI single. The hit was off the end of the right hander's bat in between the pitcher, first and second baseman. All three converged on the ball leaving no one home to cover the bag, allowing LePage to scamper home and tie the score.

With the score tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Halas led off the inning with a walk and a bunt single by sophomore second basemen Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) put runners at first and second with one out. Halas was caught stealing with Vulpis advancing on the play to keep a runner in scoring position but Persicano got the final out to send the game into extra innings.

Persicano earns the win in relief while Adams suffered the loss for the Saints.

The Saints return to action on Wednesday, March 18 when they head down the road to take on Fenway rival Wentworth Institute of Technology in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM. The Fightin' Quakers are back the same day when they travel to Thomas More for a twinbill scheduled for a 3:30 PM start.