University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#6 Michigan
Delaware Opens Season With Losses To Sixth-Ranked Michigan, No. 25 South Florida
2/10/2017 4:20:00 PM | Softball
• UD-Michigan Boxscore
• UD-USF Boxscore
• Photo Gallery (vs. Michigan)
TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Delaware softball team opened its 2017 season on Friday by falling to sixth-ranked Michigan, 7-0, and to No. 25 South Florida, 6-4, during the first day of the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament.
The Wolverines (2-0), who have advanced to the Women's College World Series in each of the last two years, jumped in front during the bottom of the first inning when Abby Ramirez legged out an 
infield single, stole second, moved to third on an illegal pitch, and scored on a single to second base by Aidan Falk.
Courtney Richardson scored on a double steal in the bottom of the second, and after Natalie Peters doubled home Faith Canfield, she crossed the plate on a single to right by Kelly Christner to make it a 4-0 game.
Michigan added a run the following frame on an RBI single by Richardson, before the Wolverines tacked on a pair in sixth when Canfield delivered an RBI double and Peters drove home a run with a single.
Meanwhile Wolverines righthander Megan Betsa, a two-time NFCA All-American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, struck out 15 Blue Hens while firing a three-hit shutout.
UD junior Leanna Gearhart reached base during all four of her plate appearances for the Blue Hens (0-2) with a bunt single, two walks and a hit by pitch. Mariah Kondravy (above left) added a single and a walk, while Devon Steiner (below right) had the other Delaware hit. Freshman pitcher Kat Morris allowed seven runs on 12 hits in five innings of work during her Blue Hen debut, before Jordan Cargile fired a hitless inning of relief.
During their second game of the day, Delaware fell behind USF (2-0) by a pair of runs before taking the lead with three unearned tallies in the top of the fifth.
Alyshia Dellatore led off with a single, and after two strikeouts, Ali Davis and Gearhart both reached on errors to load the bases. Giovanna Kolofer then legged out an infield single to put Delaware on the board, before Kondravy followed with a two-run single to put the Blue Hens in front.
The Bulls' Astin Donovan stole home in the bottom of the frame to pull USF even, but Delaware reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Steiner led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI single by Emily Neal.
However USF would answer back in the bottom half, as Mia Fung delivered a two-run double before scoring on an RBI groundout by Juli Weber to close the scoring.
Kondravy, Steiner and Dellatore paced the Blue Hens with two hits apiece, while Cargile took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits during five innings in the circle.
Game Notes:
• The sixth-ranked Wolverines were tied for the second highest ranked opponent in Blue Hen history
• Following the two losses, Delaware is now 0-18 vs. ranked teams in school history
• Kondravy now has 103 career RBI, tied for second most in UD history and just four behind Lauren Mark's record of 107
• Delaware faced both Michigan and USF for the first time in school history
• The Blue Hens continue tournament action on Saturday by facing St. John's at 3 p.m. and Illinois State at 7:45 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Players Mentioned
