CAPE CORAL, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Wilmington College scored five runs in the first two innings including four in the second frame and the New Jersey City University softball team was limited to six hits as the Quakers defeated NJCU, 7-0, in game five of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic for the Gothic Knights on March 10.
 
Wilmington, members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) is 2-3 after the win which dropped the Gothic Knights to 1-4. WC produced 13 hits.
 
Two right-handed pitchers combined on the shutout for Wilmington with Kerrie Trautman going 4.0 innings for the win (2-1). She struck out five, walked none and scattered two singles. Caitlin Mattews tossed the final three innings for the save, striking out three against no walks and four singles.
 
First baseman Emith Smith led the Quakers with two RBIs, going 3-for-3 with a double and center fielder Megan Warren was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs in a leadoff role. Designated player Jess Clutter and second baseman Savannah Hooper each had two hits.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Ashley Latushko (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) took the loss (0-3), going the first 1.1 innings before sophomore right-hander Brittany Paulikas (Fords, NJ/JFK-Iselin) finished out the final 5.2 frames, allowing one earned run and seven hits with a strikeout and two walks. Six different players had one hit for the Knights, whose best scoring chance came in the sixth when two runners were stranded.
 
The Quakers first inning run was the only one they needed as Warren scored on a throwing error—one of three committed by the Knights in the loss.
 
The big damage came in the second when Smith doubled for a 2-0 lead, Warren slipped a two-run single up the middle and Edwards doubled to right center for a 5-0 margin. Wilmington added two runs in the fifth, aided by a pair of errors.