Wilmington, Del. - In the first of a potential three-game set, the Adelphi University softball team dropped its opening contest of the NCAA Division II East Super Regional to Wilmington University on Tuesday afternoon.

Hitting came to a stale point during the afternoon, as the visitors mustered together just two hits through the first four innings. The second and fifth frames saw two 'Cats get on base with two outs, but no further opportunity came to bring those runners home. 

Senior starter Lindsey Hibbs was able to rival the opposition, holding Wilmington to just one hit through her first four. However, a leadoff solo shot from Haley Downin ended the scoreless tie heading into the sixth inning. 

Yet another runners in scoring position opportunity for Adelphi emerged in the sixth frame after a Faith Camilleri single and Courtney Wengryn reached on an error. However, a flyout from Jaden Farhat gave the Brown and Gold only three outs to spare. 

Another extra-base hit for the leadoff batter in the home half had a runner just 60 feet away almost instantly. A sacrifice bunt brought the runner home, but Hibbs threw the ball away at first to advance the batter Gabriella Saucedo to third, as well. An additional sacrifice bunt from Emma Zimmerman upped the advantage to three before the seventh. 

Despite Brianna Fischer's second hit of the day putting one on for the 'Cats, all other batters of the inning were unable to find similar success, ending Game 1 with a score of 3-0. Hibbs final line consisted of two earned runs on six hits through six innings, while also striking out five. The Ontario native now stands at 994 career strikeouts, just six away from becoming the first pitcher with 1,000 strikeouts in both Adelphi and Northeast-10 Conference history. 

"We need to continue putting pressure on defense, come up with situational hitting, and do more of the little things so the big things can happen," noted Head Coach Carla Campagna when asked what's needed for the team to get two more wins. 

Campagna and the Panthers will return to Asbury Field tomorrow (May 15) with Game 2 scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. An if-necessary Game 3 will follow at 1:30 p.m.