University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Villanova
Blue Hens Sweep Villanova, 6-4 and 4-3, To Conclude UD Spring Invitational
3/13/2016 4:03:00 PM | Softball
• Game 1 Box
• Game 2 Box
NEWARK, Del. -- The Blue Hen softball team posted a pair of comeback victories as Delaware defeated Villanova 6-4 and 4-3 on Sunday afternoon to conclude the UD Spring Invitational.
Delaware (13-7) struck first in the opener during the bottom of the third inning when Gabby Klecko 
was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shelby Jones, and scored on a bunt single by Leanna Gearhart.
However the Wildcats (9-10) tied the game in the fourth on a Chase Snell RBI triple, before taking the lead with three runs in the top of the sixth. Shea Palmer singled home the go-ahead run, while Lauren Herschberg added a two-run single later in the frame to make it a 4-1 game.
The Blue Hens would answer right back through, as Anna Steinmetz opened the bottom half with a single and Lisa Stacevicz (left) followed with a two-run inside the park homer to rightfield.
The next two UD batters were retired but after Hannah George and Jones singled, George scored the tying run when Villanova rightfielder Nikki Alden dropped a flyball hit by Leanna Gearhart. Mattie Nuccio (below) followed by stroking a two-run single to right, driving home both runners to put Delaware on top.
UD pitcher Kiersten Coffman then retired the Wildcats in order during the top of the seventh, as she secured her eighth win of the campaign.
Villanova scored two unearned runs in the top of the first during the second game, as Lauren Hanna delivered a two-run double to leftcenter.
But the Blue Hens responded in the bottom half, using RBI singles from Steinmetz and Stacevicz to pull even. George then led off the bottom of the second by blasting a pitch over the leftfield fence for the first home run of her career.
The Wildcats knotted the game at 3-3 with an unearned run in the top of the third, but Delaware went back ahead in the bottom of the fourth when George led off with a single and eventually scored on a double by Gearhart.
Villanova put the tying run on third base with one out in the seventh, but UD pitcher Carolyn Szymanski retired the next two Wildcat batters on groundouts to nail down the victory.
Szymanski, who improved to 5-3 on the year, allowed just three unearned runs on four hits while not walking a batter. Gearhart, Steinmetz and George all had two hits during the victory.
During the first game of the day, Albany defeated North Carolina A&T, 6-3, as the Great Danes won all four of their games at the invitational.
Delaware returns to action on Saturday when the Blue Hens travel to Saint Joseph's for a 12 noon doubleheader with the Hawks.
Game Notes:
• Delaware has won five of its last six games
• George had two hits all season before adding three on Sunday
• Stacevicz's homer was the sixth of her career
• Jones, Steinmetz and Nuccio have all hit safely in six consecutive games
• The Blue Hens had lost 10 straight to Villanova prior to Sunday's sweep
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
