University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Head South Again For Three-Game CAA Series at Elon
4/10/2015 11:25:00 AM | Softball
ELON, N.C. -- The University of Delaware softball team heads south for the second consecutive weekend as the Blue Hens will take on league newcomer Elon Saturday and Sunday.
The Blue Hens and Phoenix will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday at the Hunt Softball Park, with action on both days beginning at 1 p.m. Live video and live stats will be available for all three games at www.elonphoenix.com.
Delaware enters the weekend with a 20-13 record, and the Blue Hens sit in fourth place in the Colonial Athletic Association standings with a 4-4 conference mark. Elon brings a 23-12 record into the series, while the Phoenix are just a half game in front of UD in third place with a 5-4 CAA mark.
Delaware has won two consecutive games, defeating Charleston, 3-2, on Sunday before posting a 9-5 victory over Monmouth on Wednesday. The Blue Hens were leading the Hawks 13-1 through two innings of the doubleheader's second game on Wednesday, but the contest was called due to darkness.
Mariah Kondravy, the current CAA Rookie of the Week, has belted home runs in five of the last six games, as she is tied for second in the league with seven homers and ranks sixth with a .377 batting average. Kondravy also leads the Blue Hens and is fourth in the CAA with 27 RBI, while she and Jessica Grisler are tied for the team lead with 40 hits apiece.
Grisler is hitting .351 on the year and is tied for third in the league with 28 runs scored, while Leanna Gearhart is currently tied for the Division I lead with eight triples. Carolyn Szymanski, who is 14-7 on the year and has won eight of her last 11 decisions, continues to pace the UD pitching staff with a 2.57 earned run average.
Hannah Olson leads Elon with a .365 batting average this season, while Kara Shutt is hitting .351 with team-highs of 40 hits, 25 runs scored, 10 doubles and 25 RBI. Kayla Caruso has compiled an 8-3 record with a 2.47 ERA in the circle for the Phoenix.
Delaware leads the all-time series with Elon, 4-2, although the teams have not met since splitting two games at the East Carolina Pirate Clash in 2005.
The weekend wraps up a stretch of nine consecutive road games for the Blue Hens, who will be back home on Wednesday to host Rider in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
