Blue Hens Defeat Grambling, Cleveland State at Cardinal Invitational

Friday, February 14

San Antonio, TX

11:00 AM

University of Delaware

5-1

Grambling

0-5

Grambling

Delaware

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Blue Hens Defeat Grambling, Cleveland State at Cardinal Invitational

2/14/2020 5:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – The Delaware softball team opened play at the Incarnate Word Cardinal Invitational on Friday by defeating Grambling, 9-4, and Cleveland State, 7-2, at H-E-B Field.

The Blue Hens improved to 6-1 on the year, tied for the second best start in program history. UD opened with 12 consecutive wins during its inaugural year in 1976, and also was 6-1 in 1981 and 2013.

In Delaware's first game of the day, Grambing took advantage of two Blue Hen errors to score twice in the top of the first. Delaware immediately answered in the bottom half as Karolina Flores tripled home Hanna Garber and then crossed the plate on a double steal.

Grambling went back in front with two runs in the top of the third, before Delaware took control by scoring four times in the bottom half. Flores opened the rally by doubling home Sarah Bessel, while Halle Kisamore then singled home Flores to make it a 4-4 game. Following a pitching change, Chayanna Gallardo ripped a two-run double to leftfield to put UD in front for good.

Brooke Glanden delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth, before she scored on a sacrifice fly by Brittney Mendoza to close the scoring.

Flores finished 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored to pace the Blue Hen attack, while Gallardo also had two hits during the win. Maddi Marsh took over in the circle after Kailey Christian faced just one batter and went the distance from there, allowing three unearned runs while striking out six to earn the victory.

Delaware again fell behind to Cleveland State when the Vikings' Aly Packish belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first, but the Blue Hens went in front by scoring four times in the top of the fifth.

Gallardo led off by getting hit by a pitch, and she scored the tying run when Ali Davis followed with an RBI double. Grace Rudolph then delivered a pinch hit RBI double of her own to put UD in front for good, and after Garber ripped a run-scoring triple, she crossed the plate when Bessel reached on an error.

Sydney Bajusz hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to bring Cleveland State within 4-2, but Flores put the game away with a three-run blast in the top of the seventh.

Garber went 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs for the Blue Hens, while freshman Emily Winburn picked up the win after allowing two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in a complete game effort.