University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
College of Charleston
Charleston Tops Delaware, 3-2 and 11-8, in Pair of CAA Softball Thrillers
3/26/2016 5:52:00 PM | Softball
• Game 1 Box
• Game 2 Box
NEWARK, Del. -- The College of Charleston softball team edged Delaware, 3-2 and 11-8 in eight innings, as the Cougars swept a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader from the Blue Hens Saturday afternoon at the UD Softball Stadium.
Delaware (15-12, 1-2 CAA) scored during the first inning of the opener when Gabby Klecko singled and eventually came around to score on an RBI groundout by Anna Steinmetz.
However Charleston (21-11, 2-1 CAA) answered with three runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Carly Hansis and a two-run double from Jordin Jones.
The Cougars carried their 3-1 advantage until the bottom of the seventh, when the Blue Hens attempted to rally. Singles by Leanna Gearhart (left) and Mariah Kondravy put runners on the 
corners with one out, before Steinmetz singled home Gearhart to make it a one-run game.
With two down Shelby Jones laced a single to center, but UD pinch runner Jordan Cargile was gunned down at the plate by the Cougars' Becca Mueller to end the game.
Charleston pitcher Sydney Shipley improved to 7-4 after allowing two runs on nine hits in all seven innings, while Delaware starter Carolyn Szymanski took the loss as she was charged with two runs in three-plus innings of work.
Kondravy quickly put the Blue Hens on top during the nightcap with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first but Jones, Kelly Sinclair and Mueller all went deep in the top of the third as the Cougars took a 4-2 lead. However Steinmetz answered in the bottom half with a two-run shot to left to bring Delaware even.
Charleston pushed across three runs in the top of the fifth to go back in front, but Gearhart reached on an error to drive home a run before an RBI groundout by Mattie Nuccio made it a 7-6 game through six innings.
The Cougars tacked on an unearned run during the top of the seventh, but after singles by Steinmetz and Jones put the tying runners on base with two away, Lisa Stacevicz ripped a double off the leftfield fence to chase home both Blue Hens and force extra innings.
However Taylor DuPree reached on an error to open the eighth and scored on a Mueller double, while a two-run double by Sara Garcia later in the frame gave Charleston a three-run cushion.
Szymanski again took the loss in the nightcap and fell to 5-7 despite allowing four unearned runs in 3.1 innings of work. Cougars reliever Valerie Cassell, who gave up four runs in 5.2 frames, improved to 3-1 on the campaign.
Gearhart and Steinmetz each finished with four hits on the day, while Kondravy added three.
Delaware returns to action on Wednesday when the Blue Hens travel to Morgan State for a 3 p.m. non-league doubleheader.
Game Notes:
• Charleston won two of three games from the Blue Hens for the third consecutive year
• Steinmetz now has a team-high seven homers on the season, second most in the CAA
• Jones and Alyshia Dellatore each posted a hit in both games, extending their hitting streaks to six games
• Kondravy recorded her team-leading 10th multi-hit game of the season during the nightcap
• Gearhart stole three more bases and now has 20 on the year, three shy of the UD single season record
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
