University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Softball Opens 2015 Season This Weekend at Charleston Southern Tournament
2/12/2015 1:33:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The University of Delaware softball team opens its 2015 schedule this weekend as the Blue Hens will play five games at the Charleston Southern Tournament.
Delaware kicks off the campaign on Friday against Toledo at 11 a.m., before taking on the host Buccaneers at 1 p.m. The Blue Hens will face Howard at 9 a.m. and Charleston Southern at 1 p.m. on Saturday, before again facing Howard on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Delaware, led by fifth-year head coach Jaime Wohlbach, returns 14 letterwinners and nine starters from last year's squad which finished 23-25 overall and 5-12 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens were picked fifth of eight teams in the league's preseason poll announced last month.
The Delaware lineup will be paced by senior rightfielder Jessica Grisler, who batted .327 last season while leading the team with 51 hits, 31 runs, nine doubles and 24 RBI. Grisler enters her senior season ranked sixth in UD history with 173 hits, and needs just 33 more to set the school record.
The Blue Hen infield will be anchored by sophomore third baseman Giovanna Kolofer, a second team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie selection last year when she batted a team-high .340 for Delaware. Kolofer ranked second on the squad with 22 RBI, while she posted a team-leading four triples. Classmate Sarah Bencivenga, who started all 48 games at shortstop during her freshman campaign, joined Kolofer on the CAA All-Rookie team after batting .286 with 42 hits.
The Delaware pitching staff will be led by sophomore Carolyn Szymanski, who won a team-best 12 games in the circle a year ago. Junior Kelly Lupton, who went 7-8 with a 3.01 ERA, also returns, along with Kiersten Coffman and Taylor Curran.
Following this weekend's tournament, the Blue Hens will return to action on Feb. 20-22 when they are scheduled to play five games at the Central Arkansas Tournament in Conway, Ark.
