Blue Hens Continue Cardinal Invitational with Wins Over Incarnate Word, Fairleigh Dickinson

Saturday, February 15

San Antonio, TX

5:00 PM

University of Delaware

7-1

Incarnate Word

4-5

Delaware

Incarnate Word

Photo by: Jordan Burgess

Blue Hens Continue Cardinal Invitational with Wins Over Incarnate Word, Fairleigh Dickinson

2/15/2020 10:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – Delaware continued its impressive start to the season by defeating host Incarnate Word, 6-2, and Fairleigh Dickinson, 6-4, Saturday on the second day of the Cardinal Invitational.

Delaware's 8-1 start to the season is the program's best since the inaugural squad in 1976 won its first 12 games.

In the Blue Hens' first game of the day, Delaware took the early lead as Hanna Garber and Brooke Glanden belted solo homers during the top of the first.

After the Blue Hens loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, Glanden ripped a two-run double to make it a 4-0 game. Brittney Mendoza was then hit by a pitch, before Halle Kisamore drove home two more runs with a double as Delaware increased the lead to six.

Incarnate Word got on the board in the bottom half on a two-run triple by Abby Frank, but that would be the final runs of the game.

Garber finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored, while Glanden was also 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. UD starting pitcher Sarah Piening fired 3.1 scoreless innings, before Kailey Christian earned the win after giving up two runs and striking out five in 3.2 frames of relief.

The Blue Hens again took the early lead in the top of the first against Fairleigh Dickinson when Mendoza doubled and scored on a two-out RBI single by Glanden. Medonza then doubled home Sarah Bessel and Garber in the third to put Delaware on top 3-0.

The following inning Mendoza worked a bases loaded walk to force home Katie Stahre, while Bessel stole home on the play. Chayanna Gallardo then singled home pinch runner Grace Beyer in the fifth to increase the lead to six.

The Knights scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, before UD relief pitcher Emily Winburn fired a strikeout to end the rally. Winburn then allowed a leadoff single in the seventh, but retired the next three batters to seal the victory.

Mendoza went 3 for 3 with three RBI to pace the UD lineup. Starting pitcher Maddi Marsh earned the win after allowing four earned runs in 5.2 innings of work, while Winburn picked up her third save of the year with 1.1 frames of scoreless relief.