University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Return Home This Weekend To Host Delaware Spring Invitational
3/10/2016 12:36:00 PM | Softball
• Tournament Central
NEWARK, Del. -- The Blue Hen softball team returns home this weekend as UD hosts its second tournament in as many weeks by taking part in the Delaware Spring Invitational on Friday through Sunday.
The Blue Hens, who are 10-6 on the year, kick off the tournament on Friday when Delaware takes on North Carolina A&T at 12 noon and Albany at 2:30 p.m. UD does not have any games scheduled on Saturday as North Carolina A&T faces Albany at 9:30 a.m., Villanova takes on North Carolina A&T at 12 noon, and Albany battles Villanova at 2:30 p.m.
North Carolina A&T and Albany will play on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., before Delaware and Villanova play consecutive games at 12 noon and 2:30 p.m.
UD split four games against Bucknell and Delaware State at the Blue Hen Blast Tournament last weekend, including a pair of wins over the Bison and Hornets on Sunday. Sophomore rightfielder Mariah Kondravy continues to pace the lineup with a .451 batting average, 23 hits and 15 RBI, while Mattie Nuccio ranks second on the team by hitting .353 on the year.
Leanna Gearhart has posted a .322 batting average with team-highs of 13 runs scored, three triples and eight stolen bases, while current CAA Rookie of the Week Anna Steinmetz is hitting .320 with a team-leading four homers. Kiersten Coffman is 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA in the circle for the Blue Hens, while Carolyn Szymanski is 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA.
North Carolina A&T is 8-8 on the season, and is coming off a pair of wins at Rider on Monday and Tuesday. Zadaisha Young-Waddell is hitting .423 for the Aggies, while Janika May is hitting .353 and Raven Gray leads the team with 13 hits.
Albany enters the weekend with a 3-6 record, and dropped three of five games last week at the Winthrop Invitational. Elizabeth Snow paces the Great Danes with a .423 batting average, four doubles and three home runs, while McKenzie Bump is hitting .419 with a team-high 13 hits on the year.
Villanova, which is 8-7 on the campaign, won four of five games last weekend in Clearwater, Fla. Lauren Herschberg leads the Wildcats with a .415 batting average, 22 hits, and 15 runs scored, while Dana Morris is hitting .396 on the year. Kate Poppe has gone 5-5 in the circle for Villanova.
Friday's game will be the first ever matchup between Delaware and North Carolina A&T, while Albany took the only previous meeting with the Blue Hens, 2-0, in 2005. Villanova leads the all-time series with UD, 39-19-1, and has won 10 straight over the Blue Hens since the 2010 season.
