Wilmington, DE – Lightning split with cross-town rival

The Lightning faced off with cross-town rival Wilmington University in a softball double header at the GBC Softball Complex.  After the Wildcats were retired in a scoreless first inning, the Lightning stepped up to the plate and responded with a season high nine-run inning.  The Lightning manufactured nine runs on just five hits.  Junior Lauren Witzke led off the attack with a single.  With freshman Leah Bowman and Danielle Rice being hit with pitches back to back, the bases were loaded for Shannon O'Hara.  O'Hara hit into a fielder's choice that scored Witzke and kept the bases loaded on an error by the Wildcats.  Freshman Cailin Cavanaugh got herself an RBI walk, which scored Bowman and advanced the runners.  With still no outs, the Lightning continued to rack up the runs as Ashley Paige drove a ball to left field giving her an RBI single, then Shannon Graves singled up the middle to give herself an RBI.  Next at bat, Jordan Waterloo walked in a run for the Lightning.  With two outs in the first, Leah Bowman stepped to the plate for a second time and hit a shot down the left field line scoring Paige and Graves.  The bases were loaded again after Rice was walked in her second at-bat and O'Hara drove a single to deep centerfield scoring Waterloo and Bowman.   With a pitching change for the Wildcats, the Lightning could only score just one more time in the bottom of the third off a double to center field hit by Danielle Rice.  The Lightning played good defense behind their pitcher Shannon O'Hara, only giving up two runs in the top of the fourth.  The Lightning finished game one with a 10-2 victory.

Shannon O'Hara finished the game with 3 RBI's and 1 run scored and was the winning pitcher, going 5 innings with three strikeouts.  Bridget Mount led the Lightning defensively with 7 putouts for the game. 

Game two was a different look as the Wildcats went on top early, scoring 4 runs in three innings of play.  With the score 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lightning started their comeback, with a walk, followed by a single up the middle, to put two in scoring position.  The Lightning scored two in the inning, but it was not enough as the Wildcats stopped the surge and took game two, 5-2.  Jackie Waddle led the Lightning going 2-2 from the plate and 1 run scored.  Lauren Witzke recorded 5 putouts from behind the plate. 

The Lightning will next face off against West Chester University on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 at 3:00pm.