Blue Hens Drop CAA Tournament Opener

Thursday, May 11

Hempstead, N.Y.

12 p.m.

University of Delaware

29-19

#5 Towson

29-23

Towson

Delaware

5/11/2023 3:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The top-seeded University of Delaware softball team dropped a tough 4-2 decision in eight innings to fifth-seeded Towson on Thursday afternoon in their first game of the CAA Tournament. With the setback, the Blue Hens move to 29-19 on the season and will have to win each of their next four games to claim the CAA crown.

Emily Winburn was electric in the circle, firing her 15th complete game of the season. She went the entire eight innings and tied a career high with 10 strikeouts while allowing four runs on nine hits.

Eight different Blue Hens registered a hit while Sydney Shaffer and Katie Scheivert were each on base twice with a single and a walk.

The Blue Hens broke through in the bottom of the second inning as three hits resulted in a 2-0 lead. Scheivert singled with one out and moved to third when Chloe Blantz doubled off of the right field wall. Jayla Brooks drove in both runners with a first-pitch double that split the outfielders for a two-run lead.

Towson answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the third on a couple of bloop hits to even things up, 2-2.

It was a pitcher's duel the rest of the way as neither team could muster much of an offensive attack. Winburn was on cruise control as she struck out nine through the first seven innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Hens loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks sandwiched around a single. However, a strike three call ended the threat and send the game into extra frames.

In the top of the eighth, Towson used three hits and an intentional walk to score a pair and take a 4-2 lead. The Blue Hens brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out single by Shaffer, but could not pull even.

Delaware will return to action on Friday afternoon in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. The Blue Hens will play the winner of a Thursday evening elimination game between Stony Brook and either UNCW or Hofstra.

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.