University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Welcome No. 23 James Madison For Weekend Series
4/17/2015 1:26:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware softball team faces a tough challenge this weekend when the Blue Hens welcome No. 23/24 James Madison for a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at the UD Softball Stadium.
The Blue Hens and Dukes will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday, with action on both days beginning at 12 noon.
Saturday's twinbill will be webstreamed at www.bluehens.com, while live stats will be available for all three weekend contests. Additionally, UD softball alumni will be recognized on the field in between games of Saturday's doubleheader.
Delaware enters the weekend with a 23-15 overall record, and the Blue Hens are currently in fourth place in the CAA standings with a 5-6 mark. The Dukes are 34-6 overall, have a perfect 11-0 mark in the conference, and bring a 25-game winning streak into Saturday's action.
UD is looking to build on its doubleheader sweep of Rider on Wednesday afternoon, when Sarah Bencivenga posted three hits to raise her batting average to a team-leading .357 on the season. Bencivenga has nine hits in her last five games, and currently ranks second in the CAA with 13 doubles. Mariah Kondravy drilled two homers in the first win over the Broncs, giving her nine longballs for the season, tied for second most in the league.
Jessica Grisler is batting .344 on the year with team-highs of 45 hits and 30 runs scored, while Leanna Gearhart continues to lead the nation with 10 triples. Carolyn Szymanski is 16-8 with a 2.41 earned run average in the circle for Delaware, as her 16 wins rank second in the conference.
Erica Field leads James Madison with a .416 batting average, as her 57 hits and 37 RBI are both league highs. Megan Good is hitting .403 for the Dukes with eight homers and 33 RBI, while Niki Prince has scored a CAA-leading 37 runs on the year.
Good has also been stellar in the circle by compiling a 20-0 record an a 1.02 earned run average, while Jailyn Ford is 12-4 and is coming off a perfect game at East Carolina on Wednesday.
James Madison leads the all-time series with the Blue Hens, 29-13, and the Dukes have won the last eight meetings between the schools. Delaware is winless in nine all-time games against ranked opponents, including a pair of losses to No. 13 UCLA a year ago.
