Delaware Softball Drops Series Finale at Charleston, 8-5

Sunday, April 23

Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

12:30 PM

University of Delaware

18-23, 6-9

College of Charleston

29-18, 8-7

Delaware

Col. of Charleston

Blue Hens Batter Drexel, 11-3 and 8-0, in CAA Twinbill Sweep

Delaware Softball Drops Series Finale at Charleston, 8-5

4/23/2017 3:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Delaware Athletics

• Boxscore
• Boxscore (pdf)

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- College of Charleston designated player Lexee Emanuel belted a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning and the Cougars went on to defeat the University of Delaware softball team, 8-5, Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point.

Charleston, which took the rubber game of the weekend series after the teams split a doubleheader on Saturday, improved to 28-19 overall and 8-7 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Delaware dropped to 18-23 overall and 6-9 in league play.

The Blue Hens opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Leanna Gearhart led off with a bunt single, stole second and scored on a two-out single to leftcenter by Anna Steinmetz. However the Cougars immediately answered in the bottom half with RBI singles by Jordin Jones, Emanuel and Katie Padilla to take a 3-1 advantage.

Devon Steiner belted a solo homer in the top of the second, but Taylor DuPree led off the bottom half with a bunt single and scored on a Blue Hen error to again increase Charleston's lead to a pair.

The Blue Hens pulled even in the top of the fourth as after Steiner singled and Gearhart walked, Mattie Nuccio delivered a two-run double to rightcenter to make it a 4-4 game.

However the Cougars quickly answered in the bottom half by loading the bases on two UD errors and an infield single by Kelly Sinclair. Emanuel then belted a pitch over the fence in leftcenter for a grand slam, giving Charleston an 8-4 lead.

Delaware got a run back in the top of the fifth when Emily Neal drove home pinch runner Morgan Schroll with a groundout, but the Blue Hens would not get closer. UD loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh on singles by Mariah Kondravy, Neal and Alyshia Dellatore, but Charleston pitcher Sydney Shipley retired Steiner on a groundout to third to end the game.

Cougars starter Sam Martin improved to 6-5 after allowing four runs in four innings of work, while Shipley earned her first save of the year by giving up one run in the final three frames. Blue Hen starter Taylor Curran fell to 3-5 as she was charged with five runs (three earned) during three innings in the circle, before Jordan Cargile allowed three unearned runs in three frames.

Gearhart, Kondravy and Steiner each finished with two hits for Delaware, while Nuccio drove home a pair.

Delaware heads to Delaware State on Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader with the Hornets.

Game Notes:
• Steiner's home run was her fifth of the season, second most on the team
• Gearhart extended her hitting streak to five games
• Kondravy now ranks second in the CAA with 13 doubles
• Charleston won the regular season series from the Blue Hens for the fourth consecutive year

MEDIA INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)