University of Delaware Athletics
Two Home Tournaments Highlight 2015 University of Delaware Softball Schedule
10/9/2014 3:35:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware softball program will host two tournaments for the first time in school history this spring as the Blue Hens announced their 2015 schedule on Thursday.
The Blue Hens, led by fifth year-head coach Jaime Wohlbach, open the campaign with five games at the Charleston Southern Tournament on Feb. 13-15, including the season opener on Feb. 13 vs. Toledo. The following weekend Delaware will head to Conway, Ark. to participate in the Central Arkansas Tournament, taking on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Louisiana-Monroe, and Western Illinois along with the host Bears.
UD then makes its annual appearance in the Norfolk State Spartan Classic on Feb. 27-Mar. 1, before opening its home season the following weekend. The Blue Hens will welcome Hartford and Coppin State to the UD Softball Stadium on Mar. 7-8 for a double round robin invitational.
UD then hosts its annual Delaware Spring Invitational on Mar. 13-15, as the Blue Hens welcome Delaware State, Villanova, St. Francis (Pa.) and Cornell to Newark.
Following a home doubleheader against Morgan State on Mar. 18, Delaware opens its Colonial Athletic Association slate on Mar. 21-22 with a three-game series at Drexel. The Blue Hens then close out the month with five more home games, facing Lehigh in a twinbill on Mar. 25 before a weekend set against UNCW on Mar. 28-29.
Delaware then plays eight consecutive road contests, playing a conference series at College of Charleston on Apr. 4-5, a non-league twinbill at Monmouth on Apr. 8, and a three-game set at CAA newcomer Elon on Apr. 11-12.
The Blue Hens are back home to face Rider in a doubleheader on Apr. 15, before a three-game series against defending CAA champion James Madison at the UD Softball Stadium on Apr. 18-19. The homestand concludes with a non-conference twinbill vs. Coppin State on Apr. 21.
The following day Delaware heads to UMES for a pair of games with the Hawks, before the Blue Hens travel to Hofstra on Apr. 25-26 for a three-game weekend set. UD plays its final road games of the campaign on Apr. 29 with a non-conference doubleheader at St. Peter's. Delaware then wraps up the regular season on May 1-2 when the Blue Hens host local rival Towson in Newark.
The four-team CAA Tournament will be held May 6-8 on the campus of the league's regular season champion. The Blue Hens will be looking to qualify for the conference tournament for the fourth time in Wohlbach's five seasons.
Delaware returns 15 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers as the Blue Hens look to improve on the 2014 campaign when UD finished 23-25 overall and 5-12 in the CAA. The UD lineup will again be led by senior rightfielder Jessica Grisler, who needs just 33 more hits to set a new school record. Grisler was named the team's Offensive MVP for the third straight year last spring, when she paced the squad with 51 hits, 31 runs scored, nine doubles, 24 RBI and 21 walks.
Sophomore third baseman Giovanna Kolofer and sophomore shortstop Sarah Bencivenga also return, after both players earned CAA All-Rookie Team accolades in the spring. Kolofer batted a team-high .340 and led the squad with four triples, while Bencivenga hit .286 with three home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Fellow CAA All-Rookie honoree Carolyn Szymanski will pace the UD pitching staff after leading the Blue Hens with 12 wins, 131 innings pitched and 94 strikeouts during her freshman campaign.
