Softball Falters Twice on Friday

Friday, February 17

Columbia, S.C.

10:00 AM

University of Delaware

4-2

Western Kentucky

2-4

Western Kentucky

Delaware

2/17/2023 6:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Delaware softball team dropped a pair of games on Friday at the Carolina Classic, falling to Western Kentucky 6-2 and South Carolina 4-1. With the two results, the Blue Hens slip to 4-3 on the season.

Game One: Western Kentucky 6, Delaware 2
The Blue Hens could not overcome an early deficit in the weekend opener.

Brittney Mendoza and Kiara Mills each had two base hits, while Mills also added two RBI, to lead the offense. Hanna Garber was on base three times with a single and two walks. Taylor Wroten pitched 7.0 innings in relief, striking out two while allowing three runs.

Western Kentucky took a quick lead in the top of the first inning, scoring five runs. The Blue Hens responded as Garber walked and Mendoza singled in the bottom of the first before both scored on a double by Mills into the left-centerfield gap to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Hilltopers tacked on another run in the second inning to make it 6-2.

Delaware put two runners in scoring position in both the third and sixth innings, but was unable to push any more runs across.

Game Two: South Carolina 4, Delaware 1
The Blue & Gold outhit South Carolina and had runners on base in six of the seven innings, but could not come up with the clutch hit.

Emily Winburn fired her second complete game of the season, allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out two. Julz Garber had two hits as six different Blue Hens had base knocks. Mendoza and Zoey Valentino were each on base twice with a pair of walks.

South Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with an unearned run, but Delaware had a quick response. Consecutive singles by Mills and Morgan Olynyk and a sacrifice bunt but two runners in scoring position. Mills came home to tie the game on an RBI ground out by Sydney Shaffer.

The Gamecocks came right back with three more runs, just two earned, in the bottom of the second to go up 4-1.

The Blue Hens put a runner on base in each of the next four innings, but could not cut into the deficit. In the top of the seventh, two singles brought the tying run to the plate, but UD again could not capitalize.

Delaware will return to action at the Carolina Classic on Saturday morning when the Blue Hens take on Campbell at 10 a.m.

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