(LANGHORNE, Pa.) – The Wilson softball team will enter the United East Championship with momentum as it swept Cairn in a potential playoff preview on Sunday. The Phoenix secured the No. 2 seed in the tournament which starts this week after defeating the Highlanders in a pair of mercy-ruled shortened contests.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 11, Cairn 3 (5 Innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 9, Cairn 1 (5 Innings)
Venue: Stillman Athletic Complex
Records: Wilson 28-9-1, 15-1 UE; Cairn 7-23, 4-12 UE
How It Happened (Game 1)
- The Highlanders got the hot start after leading off the game with a triple and another base hit with both runners eventually scoring later in the frame. However, Wilson was able to bounce back in a big way with five runs in the top of the second with Caitlin Oliviero (Jr., Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser), Kiera O'Brine (Jr., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern), Emily Randalls (Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern), and Katelyn Keller (So., Orrtanna, Pa. / Gettysburg) all driving in runs with Keller highlighting the frame with a two RBI double.
- Addison Woods (FY, North East,Md. / Tome School) kept the ball rolling in the third with a solo home run to left field. Kayla Talbert (Jr., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown / Saint Peter's) took advantage of a pair of infield errors to make it 7-2, and Randalls added another pair when her double to left scored Oliviero and Madison Briggs (Sr., Lock Haven, Pa. / Line Mountain).
- Cairn opened bottom of the frame with a solo home run, but the Phoenix got it back in the fifth when Oliviero singled to center and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Randalls then scored on a Sydney Hartle (XXX) sacrifice fly for the eight run difference.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The Blue and White didn't slow down any at the start of the nightcap as Keller doubled to right to bring in Randalls, Woods doubled to left to score Keller, and Samantha Rybacki (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) was issued a bases-loaded walk to score Woods.
- Cairn followed with a solo run in the first, but Wilson got that back and then some with six in the third. A bases loaded walk to Oliviero made it 4-1 before O'Brine doubled to left to add two more. Randalls hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Oliviero, and Hartle homered to make it 9-1.
Inside The Numbers
- Elena Worthington (Jr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) recorded the win in the opener after going the distance. She struck out five while improving to 7-4.
- Julia Wilkes (So., Abingdon, Md. / John Carroll) went to 8-1 after allowing just one unearned run in Game 2. She struck out three before being relieved by Rylee Piper (Jr., Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) who allowed just two hits.
- Woods capped an incredible week by going a combined 5-for-7 with two RBIs, three runs, a home run, and a double.
Up Next
Wilson be the second seed in the United East Championship will host a best-of-three series starting on Friday. The Phoenix have the potential to meet Cairn again as the No. 10 Highlanders head to No. 7 Penn State Berks in a single game for the right to head to Chambersburg. Berks defeated Cairn 10-9 and 7-5 in the regular season.
