Blue Hens Take Two From Elon

Saturday, April 2

Newark, Del.

12:00 PM

University of Delaware

18-11, 2-2

Elon

17-15, 1-3

Elon

Delaware

Photo by: Jeff Fannon

4/2/2022 6:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware softball team earned a doubleheader sweep to open a pivotal CAA series on Saturday afternoon at Delaware Softball Stadium. The Blue Hens came away with a 6-5 walkoff win in game one before defeating the Phoenix 9-3 in the second game. With the two wins, UD improves to 19-11 overall and 3-2 in CAA play, while Elon falls to 17-16 on the season and 1-4 in conference action.

Game One: Delaware 6, Elon 5
Sarah Bessel scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Blue Hens earned a walkoff win.

Emily Winburn started in the circle and went 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out four. Graceyn Frost picked up the win with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts.

Kailey Christian was on base three times with two hits, including a home run, and a walk also had two RBI and two runs scored to lead the UD offense. Hanna Garber had two hits and Halle Kisamore was on base twice with a hit and a walk.

The Blue Hens took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Kisamore singled with two outs and came around to score as Elon made three errors on a ground ball by Brittney Mendoza.

Christian led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run, her second of the season, that cleared the fence in left field to put UD up 2-0.

Elon took the lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth, but the Blue Hens immediately answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Kisamore led off with a walk and came all the way around to score when Christian lined a double over the right fielder's head. Emily Blum walked to put two runners on before Morgan Olynyk hit a two-run triple to the wall in right field that put the Blue Hens back up by two, 5-3.

The Phoenix tied things back up with two-run double in the top of the sixth inning, but Frost stranded the go-ahead run in scoring position as she retired the next three batters.

Bessel dropped down a perfect bunt single with one out in the bottom of the seventh and went to third on a single by Garber. With two outs and Kisamore batting, the pitch got past the catcher and Bessel slid home with the winning run as UD took game one.

Game Two: Delaware 9, Elon 3
The Blue Hens took advantage of eight walks as they completed the sweep with nine runs on just seven hits.

Frost started in the circle and won her second game of the day. She allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits over 4.0 innings while striking out two. Kendall Shank fired 3.0 shutout innings in relief with two strikeouts for her first career save.

Brooke Glanden and Kisamore each had two hits and drove in two runs to pace the offense. Chloe Blantz walked three times and scored two runs, while Garber and Bessel were each on base twice and scored twice.

After Elon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Delaware quickly answered to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Garber led off with a walk and stole second. Kisamore then drove her in with a double into the gap in left center to knot the score 1-1.

In the bottom of the second, the Blue Hens scored four runs with the benefit of just one hit. Three walks loaded the bases with one out before another walk to Garber forced home Blum. Glanden was then hit by a pitch that scored Blantz before Bessel scampered home on a wild pitch. Kisamore lined a single into left field that that drove home Garber to give UD a 5-1 advantage.

The Phoenix responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third, taking advantage of a Delaware error, to cut the lead to 5-3.

Delaware broke things open with a three-run fourth inning. Blantz led off with a walk before Bessel reached on a bunt single and both runners advanced on a throwing error. Glanden lined a single into left field that brought home Blantz and Bessel crossed the plate on another wild pitch. Grace Rudolph, who had pinch ran for Glanden and stole second, scored on an RBI single by Brittney Mendoza to make it an 8-3 game.

Glanden led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right field line. She went to third on a passed ball and eventually scored on an infield single by Christian to provide the final 9-3 score.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon with a single game. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

For the latest on the Delaware softball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @Delaware_SB and Instagram @Delawaresoftball and like "Delaware Softball" on Facebook.