NEW CASTLE, Del. – The Felician University softball team was defeated twice by host Wilmington (Del.) University in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Thursday afternoon at Asbury Field. The Wildcats claimed an 18-2, five-inning victory in the doubleheader's first contest, then captured Game 2 by a score of 10-4.

Senior designated player Krystina Lorch (Hemet, Calif.) went 4 for 6 on the day for the Golden Falcons (5-10, 3-5 CACC).

Leading, 3-2, Wilmington broke open Game 1 with 10 runs in the bottom of the third inning before tacking on five more in the fourth. The Wildcats outhit Felician, 20-4, in the contest, with 11 of their hits going for extra bases.

After falling behind, 3-0, the Golden Falcons inched closer on run-scoring singles by Jaylene Sierra (Jersey City, N.J.) and Daisha Howard (Westbury, N.Y.) in the third. Wilmington pitcher Kylee Gunkel (Highland, Md.) worked out of further trouble, recording a pair of strikeouts with runners on second and third bases and one out. Her offense then produced 10 hits, including six doubles, during the decisive bottom of the third.

Gunkel allowed four hits, struck out eight batters, and walked one in a complete-game effort. Haley Downin (Pasadena, Md.) was 4 for 4 with three doubles and freshman Gabbie Saucedo (Orange, Calif.) also had a trio of two-baggers for Wilmington (12-10, 4-0). Sara Miller (Clayton, Del.) drove in five runs. Sophomore Alexis Velotta (Menifee, Calif.) doubled and scored for Felician.

The third inning was once again active during Game 2. Felician erased an early 1-0 deficit by scoring four times in the road half. Howard hit a three-run home run after the first two Golden Falcons reached base, and Lorch had an RBI single later in the frame. Wilmington loaded the bases with one out and all three runners eventually scored – on a Saucedo sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Kiersten Comer (West Islip, N.Y.) – during the bottom of the third to knot the score at 4-4.

The Wildcats broke the game open with five runs on four hits in the fourth. Lauren Lopez (Burbank, Calif.) had the go-ahead hit, a two-run double. Led by 3 2/3 innings of relief work from Gunkel (6-5), the Golden Falcons never scored again.

Lorch was 3 for 4 and Sierra went 2 for 3 with a double for Felician. Wilmington's Lopez finished 3 for 4.

Felician hosts Holy Family University in a CACC doubleheader on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Wood-Ridge, N.J.