Blue Hens Earn Walkoff Win to Open CAA Championship

Thursday, May 12

Elon, NC

4:00 p.m.

University of Delaware

29-14

#4 Elon

28-21

Elon

Delaware

5/12/2022 9:11:00 PM | Softball

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ELON, N.C. – Grace Rudolph beat the tag at the plate to score the winning run as the top-seeded University of Delaware softball team came away with a 1-0 walkoff win over No. 4 Elon on Thursday afternoon on the first day of the 2022 CAA Championship at Elon’s Hunt Softball Park. With the win, the Blue Hens improve to 29-14 on the season and advance into the winner’s bracket of the tournament.

Emily Winburn was fantastic in the circle for the Blue & Gold, firing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just three hits while striking out three. Of the 21 outs she recorded, 16 were ground outs while she also induced two infield popups.

Julz Garber had two hits to pace the offense while Hanna Garber was on base twice with a single and a hit-by-pitch.

The Blue Hens had chances early, putting two runners on base in each of the first two innings. However, they were unable to find the hit to drive in the game’s first run.

Winburn stranded two runners in the top of the fourth and two more in the sixth as she kept Elon off the board.

In the bottom of the seventh, Halle Kisamore led off with a single and went to second when Kailey Christian walked. Julz Garber lined a single into left field, but Kisamore was thrown out at the plate by a matter of inches. Rudolph replaced Christian as a pinch-runner at third base with Emily Blum at the plate. Blum hit a ground ball to second base and Rudolph beat the throw home, sliding headfirst across the plate as the dugout emptied to celebrate the 1-0 win.

HENS WIN!!! @gracerudolphh races home and beats the tag on an @Emily_blum10!!!

The #BlueHens defeat No. 4 Elon 1-0 to advance into the winner's bracket! pic.twitter.com/2Dq3kXHHIi
— Delaware Softball (@Delaware_SB) May 12, 2022

The Blue Hens will take on No. 3 UNCW in the winner’s bracket game on Friday. The game has been moved up to 9 a.m. to avoid inclement weather in the afternoon forecast.

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.