(ALLENTOWN, Pa.) – Wilson ended the regular season in style as it shut out Cedar Crest in both games for a sweep on Sunday. In addition to blanking the Falcons in the opener,
Julia Wilkes (FY, Abingdon, Md. / John Carroll) tossed a no-hitter, the first for the Phoenix in exactly three years.
As a result of the sweep, the Blue and White secured a home game for the first round of the United East Championship as the No. 7 seed and will host No. 10 Rosemont on Wednesday.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 9, Cedar Crest 0 (6 Innings)
Game 2 – Wilson11, Cedar Crest 0 (6 Innings)
Venue: Blaschak Field
Records: Wilson 20-13, 9-7 UE; Cedar Crest 18-20, 10-6 UE
How It Happened (Game 1)
- In her return to action, Wilkes didn't show any signs of being rusty and struck out a pair of Falcons in the first to set the tone. It was a sign of things to come as she fanned another pair in the second.
- Wilson opened the scoring in the third inning as Payton Kendall (Sr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road) took advantage of a couple of errors to circle the base paths. After Wilkes struck out the side in the bottom of the frame, the Phoenix kept the bats warm and posted three more runs in the fourth. Sydney Hartle (FY, Keedysville, Md. / Boonsboro) drove in the first on a bases loaded ground out to score Jenna Weaver (FY, Camp Hill, Pa. / Cedar Cliff). Katelyn Keller (FY, Orrtanna, Pa. / Gettysburg) scored the next as she advanced from third on a wild pitch. Carleigh Magers (FY, Mt. Airy, Md. / Urbana) then capped the rally with a base hit up the middle to score Kayla Talbert (So., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown / Saint Peter's).
- Scoring resumed in the sixth as Wilson doubled its lead. Hartle drove in Keller and Talbert on a triple before Caitlin Oliviero (So., Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) pinch ran for her and scored on a passed ball. Samantha Rybacki (FY, Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) added another on a base hit to left that plated Kiera O'Brine (So., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern).
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The Phoenix bats picked up where they left off with four runs in the first. Magers scorched one down the left field line to bring in Kendall and Keller. She ended up circling around the rest of the way in the next at-bat as Rybacki belted a double to center that also scored Talbert. Talbert added her own two RBI double one inning later that scored Kendall again as well as Lindsey Dalenberg (So., Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg).
- The scoreboard operated had a bit of a break as the next 3.5 innings were scoreless. A good reason for that on Wilson's behalf was the pitching of Rylee Piper (So., Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) who struck out three and allowed just two hits during the stretch. She totaled five K's and allowed just four hits in the win.
- The Phoenix put the finishing touches on the sweep in the top of the sixth. After Kendall drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a 7-0 game, Keller drilled pitch over the right field fence for a grand slam.
Inside The Numbers
- Wilkes' gem saw her face 21 batters with nine of them retired on strikes. Only two walks were issued in her first appearance since April 2. She remains unbeaten on the season with a 6-0 record.
- The nine strikeouts for Wilkes matches a season-best that was set against SUNY Delhi during spring break in North Myrtle Beach.
- Piper climbed above .500 on the season as she struck out five in a four-hit shutout.
- Keller had an incredible day as she went a combined 5-for-8 with six RBIs and four runs scored. Her home run was the fifth of the year, and she currently leads the conference with a slugging percentage of .820.
- Dalenberg was nearly perfect at the plate as she belted out six hits in seven at-bats and scored three runs.
- The last no-hitter thrown by a Phoenix pitcher was current assistant coach Megan Potter's final season as a player exactly three years ago. She fanned eight of the 15 batters she faced in an 11-0 win over Notre Dame.
Up Next
The Phoenix will host Rosemont in a single elimination game on Wednesday. First pitch is currently set for 4 p.m.
