Wilmington University pitchers Kim Lawrence and Heather Karasek combined to throw a pair of shutouts against the visiting Deacons of Bloomfield College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) softball action on Saturday afternoon at Asbury Field. The Wildcats won the opener by a score of 1-0 and completed the sweep with a 7-0 victory in the nightcap.
Lawrence (8-10) tossed a three hitter in the first game, striking out nine in the complete game victory. She was equally matched by Bloomfield’s Brianne Moore, who tossed a one-hitter in the loss. Her only blemish was a solo homerun off the bat of junior Kristin Tomlinson in the bottom of the third inning, that Wilmington made hold up for the win.
The Deacons had a good chance to do damage in the top of the 7th as Ashton Corley led off the frame with a single and Krystina Poloni followed with a walk. However, Nicole Cagnino popped up to second base with no outs. Tiffany Muschio dropped down a great bunt to put two runners in scoring position for Daliana Perez, but the Deacons caught another bad break. On an 0-1 count, Perez was hit in the thumb with a pitch, which was ruled a foul ball. After receiving treatment on the thumb, Perez was unable to grip the bat to swing, so the only option was to try to drop down a 2 strike bunt. Perez got it down, but it rolled just foul to end the game.
Wilmington jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings in game two, and blew the game open with a four spot in the third inning. They added an insurance run in the fourth to make it 7-0, that would hold as the final score.
Karasek (8-6) was just as impressive in the nightcap, as she scattered just four hits while striking out 10 in seven innings of work. Offensively the Wildcats were led by sophomore Kinsley Parker, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Classmate Kristin Garvin was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI, while senior Heather Bush was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Amanda Cordrey finished 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI, and sophomore Amanda Crockett was 1-for-3 with a RBI for the ‘Cats.
The game marked the end of a disappointing season for the Deacons, who ended at 15-25. Despite not playing a single game with their lineup intact, BC was alive for the playoffs down to the final day, but finished 10-16 in CACC play.