New Castle, Del. - Georgian Court University's season-high, twelve-game winning streak came to a crashing halt Thursday as the Lions suffered a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference softball sweep at Wilmington University, losing to the Wildcats by scores of 8-0 (5-inn.) and 12-6.

Two runs in the second inning, and a six-spot in the third, would be all that would necessary in the opener as Wilmington sent off GCU in mercy-rule fashion, the Lions' first such defeat since dropping an 8-0, six-inning decision to the University of Central Missouri back on March 5 in Winter Haven, Fla.

The potent lineup of the royal-and-gold was tamed by freshman hurler, Kylee Gunkel (Highland, Md.), who spun a five-inning one-hitter (2 BB, 8 K) for the victory. Georgian Court ace, Mikayla Gilgert, managed to go only 2.2 IP in the eventual loss as the senior allowed all eight runs (5 ER) in the outing.

A Taylor Barraza three-run blast, followed by a Kiara Meikle ribbie double, provided the Lions an immediate first-inning, 4-0 cushion in the nightcap. WU countered with two crooked frames, a five-run second and four-tally third, to take a 9-4 lead. The Wildcats (22-14, 10-2 CACC), with 17 hits in the contest, added another pair in the sixth to put the game permanently out of reach for the Lions (25-11, 14-2 CACC).

Renamarie Rocha (So.-Garden Grove, Calif.) collected the win out of the Wilmington bullpen (6.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R. 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 2K). Gilgert (16-6), again getting the start in game two, suffered the defeat on a lost day for the Lions.

GCU now regroups with the Easter break before returning to the diamond on Wednesday when the Lions host Chestnut Hill College at 2:30 p.m. in another CACC tilt.