(NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – The Wilson softball team continued its great start to the season and spring break with a pair of wins over Kenyon and New Jersey City on Sunday. Both were close one-run contests with the Phoenix holding off the Owls in the final inning before walking off the Gothic Knights to end the day.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 5, Kenyon 4
Game 2 – Wilson 11, NJCU 10
Records: Wilson 4-0, Kenyon 0-1, NCJU 1-1
How It Happened (Game 1 vs. Kenyon)
- Small ball helped the Phoenix plate the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) led off with an infield single, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and eventually scored on a ground out by Haiden Brookens (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. Chambersburg Magnet) two batters later. Although the Owls pulled even in the top of the second, Wilson kept the bats hot and scored three in the bottom of the frame. Two came on an error as Emma-Leigh Gillingham (FY, Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) and Madison Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro) scored on a Kenyon miscue. Two batters later, Dalenberg scored from third on a stolen base attempt by Kiera O'Brine (FY, Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern).
- The Owls eventually made it close down the stretch. After loading the bases in the sixth, a sacrifice place cut the deficit down to three, but Wilson was able to get out of the jam as Kenyon left a pair stranded. In the seventh, Kenyon took advantage of an error to get within one, but the Phoenix were able to close out the game with a ground out.
- Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) got the win in the opener after she allowed one run on six hits with two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
How It Happened (Game 2 vs. NJCU)
- The proverbial nightcap was much more of a high scoring affair that saw the Blue and White score in six of the seven innings. NCJU opened the game with a pair of runs, but allowed the Phoenix to get on the board on a fielding error that allowed Caitlin Oliviero (FY, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) to score in the bottom of the first. Another Knights miscue in the second allowed Gillingham to score to tie the game.
- Errors continued to plague NJCU, but Wilson didn't mind as it scored four more in the fourth. Abigail Evans (FY, Muncy, Pa. / Warrior Run) and Dalenberg put the Phoenix in front 4-2 after a throwing error before Alyssa Wenger (Sr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) scored on another infield error one batter later. Brookens made the score 6-2 with a base hit through the right side to score Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West).
- NJCU started to rally and scored three runs in each of the final three innings. Thankfully the Phoenix were able to answer each time as the two teams kept exchanging leads. Down one to start the bottom of the seventh, another NJCU error allowed Dalenberg to get to second base. Another one allowed her to score and tie the game. Barker then provided the heroics with a walk-off single down the third base line to score Wenger for the win.
- Paige Dill (So., New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford) picked up the win with a pair of relief innings to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Inside The Numbers
- Dalenberg had a busy day running around the base paths. She scored two runs in each game with three hits. Gillingham, Barker, Payton Kendall (Jr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road), and Wenger also had multiple run games.
- Brookens had three RBI on the day to lead the team. Two came in the opener against the Owls.
- Wilson's 4-0 start is its first since the 2021 campaign.
- This was the first meeting for the Phoenix with both Kenyon and NJCU.
