University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Elon
Steinmetz, Szymanski Lead Blue Hens To 8-2 Win Over Elon at CAA Tournament
5/10/2016 5:21:00 PM | Softball
• Boxscore
• Boxscore (pdf)
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- UD freshman catcher Anna Steinmetz belted two homers while righthander Carolyn Szymanski allowed just two runs in the circle as the University of Delaware softball team posted an 8-2 win over Elon in the opening game of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Tuesday afternoon at JMU's Veterans Memorial Park.
The fifth-seeded Blue Hens, who improve to 30-19 on the season, advance to play top-seeded and seventh-ranked James Madison on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. No. 4 seed Elon, which dropped to 26-24, will face the loser of the Towson-Charleston contest in an elimination game on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Steinmetz, who was named the CAA Rookie of the Year earlier in the day, put the Blue Hens on the board by drilling a long home run over the centerfield fence.
Lisa Stacevicz then reached on a double with one out in the top of the fifth when Elon centerfielder Kara Shutt lost her flyball in the sun, while Hannah George followed by blasting a two-run shot to leftcenter as Delaware increased its lead to 3-0.
The Blue Hens then put the game away in the top of the seventh by pushing across five more runs on six hits. A George double followed by singles from Leanna Gearhart and Mattie Nuccio loaded the bases, before Mariah Kondravy lined a two-run single up the middle. Steinmetz then followed by blasting a three-run shot to center, tying the UD single season record with her 15th longball of the year.
Elon strung together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Kristin Hoover worked a leadoff walk and one out later Erica Serafini drilled a two-run homer to leftfield. After an Emily Roper walk, Kiersten Coffman replaced Szymanski in the circle, and George made a phenomenal catch in centerfield on a deep flyball hit by Ashtyn Foddrell. Coffman then retired Emily Cameron on a flyball to left to end the game.
Szymanski earned the win and improved to 12-10 after allowing just two runs on two hits in 6.1 innings of work, while Elon starter Kayla Caruso dropped to 9-7 as she gave up three runs in 4.1 frames.
Steinmetz finished 3 for 4 with four RBI at the plate for the Blue Hens, while George was 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Delaware snapped a 10-game losing streak in the CAA Championship, winning a league tournament game for the first time since a 4-2 triumph over JMU in 2004.
Game Notes:
• Steinmetz is now tied for the CAA lead in homers along with Towson's Shelby Stracher
• Steinmetz is already fourth in UD history with 15 longballs
• The last Blue Hen to hit two homers in a game was Kondravy vs. Towson on May 1, 2015
• George hit her second career homer and posted the first three-hit game of her career
• Szymanski earned her 41st career win, tied for fourth most in UD history
• Gearhart stole her 43rd base, Delaware's 100th steal of the year
• UD secured its sixth 30-win season in school history and has posted consecutive 30-win seasons for just the second time, along with 1999-2000
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
