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Rafter and Gilbert Go Long to Help Wild to Doubleheader Split

July 28, 2019 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois News Release

Marion, IL - The Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois split a doubleheader with the Cleveland Comets on Sunday night at Rent One Park, falling 4-3 in game one, before earning a 3-0 shutout victory in game two.

The Wild got the scoring started quickly in game one, with two runs in the bottom of the first. Holly Speers singled home Victoria Hayward, who had led off the inning with a single to make it 1-0. Emma Entzminger pushed home the second run of the game with a single of her own that scored Jennifer Gilbert from third.

The Wild lead held up until the top of the fourth, when the Comets got two runs to tie it up. With Anissa Urtez and Lilli Piper on base, Chelsea Gonzales doubled to right field scoring both runners to even the score. The Comets took the lead on another two run inning in the fifth, thanks to a two-run home run from Urtez.

The Wild pushed to find the equalizer, coming closest in the sixth, when Janet Leung led off with a double, and came home when Hayward reached on an error, but couldn't push anything else across.

It was another early lead in game two for the Wild. Kaleigh Rafter put the Wild ahead 1-0 in the third with a two-out solo home run over the left field fence. It looked like the Comets had found the tying run in the top of the sixth, with Carly Thomas at second, Sammy Marshall singled off the glove of Holly Speers and Joey Lye, but was able to corral the ball and fire home a perfect throw to Rafter, who was able to nab Carly Thomas at the plate and get the Wild out of the inning unscathed. The Wild got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Victoria Hayward reached on a bunt single, Jennifer Gilbert hit a two-run home to put the Wild up 3-0.

Danielle Lawrie was sensational on the mound for the Wild in this one. She threw a complete game shutout, allowed just three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Lawrie earned RIP-IT Player of the Game honors for her performance, while Anissa Urtez claimed them in game one thanks to her game-winning home run.

The final game of the series and the season gets underway at 6:30pm CT, with the Wild looking to end the season on a high note and earn a series split with the Comets.

Game One: Comets 4, Wild 3

Game Two: Wild 3, Comets 0

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Rafter and Gilbert Go Long to Help Wild to Doubleheader Split - Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois

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