University of Delaware Athletics
Softball Year In Review
6/15/2022 4:14:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware softball team had one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2022. Not only did the Blue Hens win their first CAA Regular Season Championship, but they accomplished many of their goals and surpassed several milestones along the way.
Historic Season in the Books
Delaware had a challenging non-conference schedule to open the season with six games against Power Five opponents over the first five weeks, but the team answered the call by going 3-3 in those early contests with wins over Purdue, N.C. State and Penn State.
The early-season momentum carried into CAA play where, after dropping its first two conference games at UNCW, the Blue & Gold responded by winning seven-straight CAA games, including back-to-back sweeps of Elon and Drexel. The three wins over Drexel all came on the same day as the Blue Hens and Dragons played a 14-inning marathon in the series opener that was suspended overnight due to weather. Hanna Garber ended the drama with a home run on the second pitch after the game resumed. UD would go on to win the remaining two games on the day for the series sweep.
Despite having the final six games of the regular season canceled, the Blue Hens close out CAA play with an 11-4 record for a .733 winning percentage, clinching the program's first-ever CAA Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed at the CAA Championship, which was held at Elon. Delaware opened the tournament with a 1-0 walkoff win over No. 4 Elon, but dropped its next two games against No. 2 UNCW and the Phoenix.
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS!!
— Delaware Softball (@Delaware_SB) May 7, 2022
For the first time in program history, the #BlueHens have won the @CAASports Regular Season Championship!!
???? https://t.co/22KWQfotiq#BTF pic.twitter.com/LReGmi6TDx
HENS WIN!!! @gracerudolphh races home and beats the tag on an @Emily_blum10!!!
— Delaware Softball (@Delaware_SB) May 12, 2022
The #BlueHens defeat No. 4 Elon 1-0 to advance into the winner's bracket! pic.twitter.com/2Dq3kXHHIi
Dynamic in the Circle
The pitching staff owned the second-best team ERA with a 2.84 mark and struck out 232 batters while issuing a league-low 88 walks. Junior Emily Winburn and freshman Graceyn Frost tied for the CAA lead with 13 wins each while Winburn was also among the league leaders in appearances (30), games started (22), strikeouts (112) and batting average against (.231). Frost also reached the century mark in strikeouts, finishing with 100 in her rookie campaign. Megan Stauffer was electric out of the bullpen with a 2.98 ERA in 20 appearances, setting the UD record with five saves.
Power Bats
The Delaware offense, despite playing just 45 games overall, ranked third in the conference in batting with a .275 team average. The Blue Hens led the CAA with 68 doubles and were second in the conference in hits (333), home runs (36) and runs scored (239). Hanna Garber led the Blue Hens with a .359 batting average and 23 extra-base hits, including eight home runs, 10 doubles and a team-high five triples. Brooke Glanden led UD with nine home runs and 38 RBI while Brittney Mendoza and Halle Kisamore each had five home runs and tied for the team lead with 12 doubles.
Milestones Reached
Several Blue Hens reached personal milestones during the 2022 season. The trio of Garber, Glanden and Mendoza all reached 150 career hits and rank in the top 20 in program history while Kisamore recorded her 100th career hit. Glanden and Mendoza also surpassed the milestone of 100 career RBI both are tied for third in the Delaware record books with 121 RBI.
When UD defeated Drexel three times on April 10, Head Coach Jen Steele recorded her 200th career victory as a Division I head coach. Her 95 victories in four seasons at Delaware rank her third in program history.
With her HR in game one today, @brookieeeeeee_g reached 150 career hits! Congrats Brooke!#BlueHens | #BTF pic.twitter.com/wxImj075ax
— Delaware Softball (@Delaware_SB) April 16, 2022
With a single up the middle in the #BlueHens' first game of today's doubleheader, @HalleKisamore reached 100 career hits!!
— Delaware Softball (@Delaware_SB) March 20, 2022
Congrats Halle!! pic.twitter.com/UZtuNX5k7G
Taking Home Some Hardware
Garber became Delaware's first CAA Defensive Player of the Year in her first season at third base after playing her first three seasons in the outfield. She committed just three errors on the season while starting all 42 games and handling 120 chances. In conference play, she did not commit a single error in 43 chances.
The Blue Hens had a league-high five players selected to all-conference teams and Garber was one of three Blue Hens to be named to the All-CAA First Team. She was joined by Mendoza and Winburn, while Julz Garber and Graceyn Frost each earned a spot on the All-CAA Second Team. Frost was also named to the All-CAA Rookie Team.
Steele was selected as the CAA Head Coach of the Year after she and her coaching staff led the Blue & Gold to the program's first-ever CAA Regular Season Championship. Delaware finished the season with a 29-16 overall record and an 11-4 mark in CAA play, clinching the third-straight winning season under Steele.
Following the conclusion of the season, the Blue Hens had four student-athletes named to the 2022 NFCA All-Northeast Region Teams, marking the most selections in program history. Garber was selected to the first team for the second-straight year while Winburn also earned her second-consecutive all-region selection as she was named to the second team after being a third-team member in 2021. She was joined on the second team by Frost while Kisamore was recognized on the third team.
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.
