Softball Splits Doubleheader with Rider

Wednesday, March 22

Newark, Del.

2:00 PM

University of Delaware

11-13

Rider

6-13

RIDER

Delaware

Photo by: Gavin Bethell

3/22/2023 7:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware softball team used its second shutout in three games to secure a split of a doubleheader with Rider on Wednesday afternoon at Delaware Softball Stadium. The Blue Hens dropped the first game 4-2 before bouncing back for a 2-0 win in the second game. With the two results, Delaware moves to 12-13 overall.

Game One: Rider 4, Delaware 2
Delaware outhit the Broncs, but could not come up with a clutch hit as the late-inning rally came up short.

The top three hitters in the lineup – Hanna Garber, Julz Garber and Katie Scheivert – all had two hits, while Kiara Mills was on base three times with a hit, walk and hit-by-pitch. Anaya Troy entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 2-for-2 in her first two collegiate at-bats.

Kendall Shank fired 5.0 innings of one-run relief, finishing with two strikeouts.

The Blue Hens took an early 1-0 lead as consecutive two-out doubles by Scheivert and Mills in the bottom of the first resulted in a run.

Rider responded with three runs in the top of the second inning as a single, error, three walks and two wild pitches gave the Broncs the lead.

The score remained the same until an insurance run crossed the plate in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out RBI double.

The Blue Hens stranded three runners in the fifth and two more in the sixth before rallying again in the seventh. Troy led off the final inning with a single and moved to second on a single by Hanna Garber. Julz Garber reached on a bunt single and the throw was wild, allowing Troy to score. However, Hanna Garber tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate.

Delaware still brought the winning run to the plate, but could not come up with the big hit.

Game Two: Delaware 2, Rider 0
Rider only managed four base runners against Taylor Wroten as the Blue Hens registered their second shutout in the last three games.

Wroten fired her second-straight complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out three. Julz Garber and Brittney Mendoza paced the offense with two hits apiece.

Delaware broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth. Singles by Garber and Mendoza put runners on the corners with two outs. With Sydney Shaffer batting, Mendoza took off toward second. The throw from the catcher glanced off the shortstop's glove, allowing Garber to run home.In the bottom of the sixth, Mills lifted a one-out double over the right fielder's head and Mendoza immediately followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.

Wroten was cruising as she did not allow a hit until a two-out double in the top of the fifth inning. She worked around an error in the seventh inning to preserve the shutout.

The Blue Hens will return to action this weekend as they stay out of conference play during their CAA bye week, hosting Villanova and Boston University for games on Saturday and Sunday. Delaware will play Villanova (1:30 p.m.) on Saturday afternoon before playing the Terriers in a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11 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.