University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Elon
Delaware Takes Opener at Elon, 4-1, Drops Nightcap, 7-4
4/11/2015 6:59:00 PM | Softball
• Game 1 Boxscore
• Game 2 Boxscore
ELON, N.C. -- The University of Delaware softball team posted a 4-1 win over Elon in the opener before dropping a 7-4 decision in the nightcap as the Blue Hens split a CAA doubleheader with the Phoenix Saturday afternoon at Hunt Softball Park.
Delaware (21-14, 5-5 CAA) quickly took the lead in the opener, as Heather Oakley singled to rightfield to drive home Leanna Gearhart in the top of the first inning. Jessica Grisler led off the third with a solo home run to right, while Gearhart followed with a triple and then scored on a Sarah Bencivenga single to give the Blue Hens a three-run advantage.
The Phoenix (24-13, 6-5 CAA) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Kara Shutt, but UD pitcher Carolyn Szymanski struck out Carey Million with the bases loaded to escape further damage. Delaware then got the run right back in the top of the sixth when Shelby Jones hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield to chase home pinch runner Morgan Schroll.
Elon loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on an infield single and two walks, but Szymanski retired Alaina Hall on a groundout to end the game. Szymanski improved to 15-7 in the complete game win after allowing just one unearned run and striking out a season-high nine batters, while Grisler and Bencivenga each had two hits at the plate for the Blue Hens.
Delaware again struck first during the nightcap, as Szymanski doubled with two outs in the top of the second before pinch runner Hannah George crossed the plate on a single by Jones. The Blue Hens doubled their lead in the fifth when Giovanna Kolofer legged out an infield single, moved to second on a walk to Grisler, and scored on a single to left by Gearhart.
But after being shut down for most of the afternoon, Elon finally exploded in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Shutt singled home the first run of the frame, and after Emily Roper belted a three-run homer, Kiandra Mitchum laced an RBI double to give the Phoenix a 5-2 advantage. Elon then added two more runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Million and Mitchum.
Delaware rallied in the seventh, as Gearhart tripled home Kolofer and then scored on an RBI single by Bencivenga, but Oakley followed with a groundout to end the game. Gearhart finished 2 for 4 during the second game, and following her pair of triples during the afternoon, she now leads the nation and has tied the UD single season record with 10 triples on the year.
Delaware and Elon will play the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.
Hen Scratchings:
• Elon remained in third place while UD stayed in fourth place in the league standings
• Delaware now leads Division I with 18 triples on the year
• Grisler now has 10 career homers, tied for fourth in UD history
• Gearhart has hit triples in seven of the last eight games, including four straight
• Gearhart tied the UD single season triples record set by Lauren Mark in 1999
• Szymanski allowed just one unearned run in nine innings on the day
• Jordan Cargile picked up the loss for UD in the nightcap after allowing four runs in 2.1 innings
• Elon left 20 runners on base during the doubleheader
AGATE:
Game 1
Delaware....102 001 0 - 4 8 2
Elon............000 010 0 - 1 5 0
UD: Szymanski and Wissinger. Elon: Caruso, O'Shea (3) and Roper. E: Wissinger (UD), Nuccio (UD). LOB: UD 4, Elon 11. 2B: Shutt (Elon); HR: Grisler (UD); HBP: Olson (Elon), Quintana (Elon); SH: Quintana (Elon); SF: Jones (UD); SB: Roper (Elon); CS: Nuccio (UD), Hall (Elon). Win: Szymanski (15-7). Loss: Caruso (8-4).
Game 2
Delaware....010 010 2 - 4 9 1
Elon............000 052 x - 7 9 1
UD: Szymanski, Cargile (3), Lupton (5) and Wissinger. Elon: Mitchum, White (6) and Million. E: Kolofer (UD), Quintana (Elon). LOB: UD 6, Elon 9. 2B: Szymanski (UD), Million (Elon), Mitchum (Elon), Kadlic (Elon); 3B: Gearhart (UD); HR: Roper (Elon); HBP: Roper (Elon), Million (Elon); SH: Hall (Elon); CS: Bencivenga (UD). Win: Mitchum (8-6). Loss: Cargile (2-2).Â
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
