(WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.) – A historic season came to a close as Wilson fell to Penn in the United East Championship on Saturday. A pair of pitchers' duels opened the day with the Phoenix taking the first contest in extra innings while the Wildcats answered with a shutout of their own in the second. With the threat of potential bad weather looming in Sunday's forecast, the teams made it a tripleheader with Penn coming out on top.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 1, Penn 0 (8 Innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 0, Penn 2
Game 3 – Wilson 3, Penn 13
Venue: Lycoming Valley Intermediate
Records: Wilson 29-13, Penn 30-10
How It Happened (Game 1)
- In a pitchers' duel for the ages, Wilson's Rylee Piper (FY, Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) went toe-to-toe with Penn's Mackenzie Weaver. Both stymied the oppositions' bats for the first game leaving the game scoreless through seven innings. Both teams threatened in the sixth, but Taylor Barker (Sr., Chehalis, Wash. / WF West) was left stranded on third in the sixth, while Madison Heuer (Jr., Greencastle, Pa. / Boonsboro) connected with Madison Briggs (So., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) on a double play where she caught a fly ball before nailing the runner attempting to take third.
- The difference in the game came in the top of the eighth as Lindsey Dalenberg (FY, Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) scored the go-ahead run. A pair of fielder's choices and an error resulted in the bases being loaded and Haley Privett (Sr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) made it count as she squeezed one through the left side to bring in Dalenberg. The Wildcats were able to sacrifice their runner to third on the first batter in the bottom of the frame, but Piper was able to retire the next two batters on a strikeout and a fly out to center to end the game.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The roles were switched in Game 2 as the Wildcats had the upper edge on the scoreboard in another tight contest. Penn was able to get a few extra base hits, but eventually broke through in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. Madison Shaffer doubled to left center before coming home on a base hit by Madison Herriman.
- Herriman added an insurance run two innings later as she led off the seventh with a single to left. After an infield error, Herriman was able to score on a double by Grace Lorson.
How It Happened (Game 3)
- The Wildcats picked up steam in the rubber match and opened the game with three runs in the top of the first on four hits with two of them going for extra bases. The Phoenix were able to answer in the bottom of the frame as Dalenberg scored on a base hit from Barker, but Penn came right back with one run in the second and three more in the third for a 7-1 lead.
- Abigail Evans (FY, Muncy, Pa. / Warrior Run) generated a spark in the fifth for the Phoenix with a lead off walk and eventually scored on a triple by Dalenberg that also plated Heuer. The momentum was short lived as Penn answered with six runs over the next to frames to cut the comeback short.
Inside The Numbers
- Piper capped an incredible rookie campaign with a complete game shutout to move to 19-4 on the season. She allowed just four hits and struck out four with no walks.
- Dalenberg had the best day at the plate amongst the Phoenix as they took on the best pitching staff in the conference. She finished 4-for-10 with a double, two triples, two RBI, and two runs scored.
- This was just the fourth meeting all-time between Wilson and Penn. The lone previous meeting also came in the postseason back in 2018 when the Phoenix defeated the Wildcats 5-2.
- Wilson's 29 wins set a new program record for most wins in a single season. The previous mark was 27 wins set during the 2019 campaign that saw the Blue and White make their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Four of the last five seasons played have seen Wilson win 24 or more games.
