Blue Hens Split Saturday Doubleheader with Hofstra

Saturday, April 23

Newark, Del.

12:00 PM

University of Delaware

26-14, 9-4

Hofstra

16-21, 9-3

Hofstra

Delaware

Photo by: Mark Campbell

4/23/2022 8:12:00 PM | Softball

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

NEWARK, Del. – Brittney Mendoza had six hits over the two games as the University of Delaware softball team earned a split of a doubleheader with Hofstra on Saturday at Delaware Softball Stadium. The Blue Hens fell just short in game one by a 6-5 score before using a seven-run second inning to win the second game 8-5. With the two results, UD moves to 27-14 overall and 10-4 in CAA play, remaining just ahead of Hofstra (16-22, 9-4) in the standings.

Game One: Hofstra 6, Delaware 5

The Blue Hens had the tying and winning runs in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not score either of them as they dropped the first game of the doubleheader.

Brittney Mendoza had three hits to lead the offense, while Brooke Glanden had two hits and three RBI. Hanna Garber and Julz Garber were each on base twice with a single and a walk, while Kailey Christian each had two RBI.

Emily Winburn started in the circle and went 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits with one strikeout. Megan Stauffer fired 3.2 shutout innings of relief.

The Blue Hens wasted no time in the bottom of the first inning as the first five batters reached base. Hanna Garber led off with a walk before Glanden launched the first pitch she saw for her team-leading ninth home run of the season over the center field fence. Mendoza restarted the rally with a single and she went to third when Halle Kisamore reached on a two-base error. Both runners scored on a two-run double by Christian that gave UD a quick 4-0 lead.

Hofstra worked its way back with a run in the second inning and two more in the third. A three-run home run in the top of the fourth gave the Pride a 6-4 lead.

The Delaware offense was kept quiet after the first inning as 11-straight batters were retired until the fifth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, pinch-hitter Jayla Brooks drew a walk and moved up on a ground out. Glanden drove her in with a double off the fence in center field, just missing a game-tying home run. A Mendoza single put the winning run on base, but a strikeout and ground out ended the game 6-5.

Game Two: Delaware 8, Hofstra 5

The Blue Hens used a seven-run seventh inning and held on to win game two.

Mendoza again had three hits to pace the offense while Glanden also added a pair of base knocks while reaching base three times. Emily Blum and Morgan Olynyk both singled and walked as well.

Graceyn Frost picked up her 12th win of the season in the circle, going the first 4.1 innings with four strikeouts while allowing four earned runs on eight hits. Stauffer came on in relief for the second time on the day and went 2.2 scoreless innings to pick up her fourth save.

After Hofstra opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second, the UD bats broke things open in the bottom half of the inning, scoring seven runs on just two hits to take a 7-2 lead. Three-straight walks loaded the bases before Chloe Blantz grounded a single through the left side to put the Blue Hens on the board. Hanna Garber then tied the game with a bases-loaded walk before Mendoza drove in a run with a single into right field. Two runs crossed the plate when Glanden hit a grounder to first and the throw home was wild. Kisamore drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before the final run of the inning scored when Glanden crossed the plate as Blum reached on an error.

The Pride cut Delaware's lead to 7-4 with two runs in the third inning, before making it a two-run game with another run in the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Glanden lined a one-out single and was replaced by pinch-runner Grace Rudolph. She went to third on a Kisamore double and then scored when Blum beat out a two-out infield single to provide the final 8-5 margin.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Delaware Softball Stadium is set 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.