University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens To Honor Seniors During Final Home Weekend Series vs. Hofstra
4/18/2014 11:26:00 AM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware softball team will play its final home Colonial Athletic Association series of the season as the Blue Hens welcome Hofstra for a three-game set at the UD Softball Stadium. The teams will play a 12 noon doubleheader on Saturday, along with a 12 noon single game on Sunday.
The Blue Hens are a season-best two games over the .500 mark at 21-19 following Wednesday's doubleheader sweep at Rider. Freshman third baseman Giovanna Kolofer led the way with six hits and six RBI during the sweep, while sophomore Kiersten Coffman picked up both wins in the circle.
Delaware is 5-6 in league play, and sits in fourth place in the conference standings with three weekends remaining. The Blue Hens close out CAA play next weekend at league-leading James Madison, and have a bye during the final regular season weekend on May 2-3.
Hofstra brings a 23-11 record into this weekend's action, following a twinbill split with 24th-ranked LSU on Wednesday. The Pride, which has won seven straight CAA regular season championships and the last two tournament titles, is tied for second place in standings with a 5-4 mark.
Kolofer has been on a tear lately, upping her team-leading batting average to .393 during her rookie season. She has batted safely in six consecutive games, going 11 of 23 from the plate during that span. Junior rightfielder Jessica Grisler is hitting .343 on the year while leading the squad with 46 hits, 29 runs scored, nine doubles and 22 RBI, while sophomore centerfielder Gabby Klecko is the third Blue Hen hitting over the .300 mark with a .327 batting average.
Coffman is 4-2 in the circle with a team-leading 2.04 earned run average this season, while fellow sophomore Kelly Lupton is 6-6 with a 2.44 ERA. Freshman Carolyn Szymanski has earned a team-high 11 victories to go with her 3.75 ERA.
Becca Bigler leads Hofstra and the CAA with a .495 on-base percentage, while Chloe Fitzgerald paces the Pride with a .376 batting average, 44 hits, 24 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Kim Smith is hitting .327 for Hofstra, while Maggie Hawkins has belted a team-high seven home runs.
Taylor Pirone is 10-5 with a 1.58 earned run average in the circle for the Pride, while Morgan Lashley is 13-4 with a 1.94 ERA.
Hofstra has won the last 21 meetings between the two schools, since the Blue Hens swept a doubleheader from the Pride in 2006 in Newark. Hofstra has won 58 of the 74 all-time meetings with the Blue Hens.
Both of Saturday's game will be livestreamed for free at bluehens.com. Prior to Sunday's game Blue Hen seniors Michelle McKinnon and Brittney Noons will be honored before playing in their final weekend home game at the UD Softball Stadium.
