Softball Defeats Iowa State, Earns First Ever Victory Over Big 12 Program

Friday, February 23

Charlottesville, Va.

10 AM

University of Delaware

6-4

Iowa State

6-4

Delaware

Iowa State

Photo by: Michael Riccio

Softball Defeats Iowa State, Earns First Ever Victory Over Big 12 Program

2/23/2024 4:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Delaware defeated Iowa State, 8-5, on the first day of the Rawlings Classic Tournament hosted by University of Virginia. The win was Delaware's first ever against a Big 12 program. The Blue Hens used two four-run innings to help secure the victory. The game was halted in the fourth inning because of rain for two hours and 20 minutes.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Gianna Costaro went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run.
Morgan Hess went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Julz Garber went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
Chloe Blantz and Julia Boyet both went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Sydney Shaffer and Katie Scheivert went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Emily Winburn earned the win in relief by pitching 4.2 innings and allowed zero earned runs with four strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Hess worked a hitless first inning and stranded a runner on second base after a walk and stolen base.
Iowa State began the scoring in the bottom of the second though with a home run, but Hess recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Delaware's offense came to life in the third inning, as Garber and Blantz singled and Costaro reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with two outs. Boyet tied the game with an RBI infield single, then Hess cleared the bases with a double to put Delaware up 4-1.
Iowa State got two runs back on a home run in the bottom half. Winburn came on in relief and stranded the tying run on second base to end the inning.
Delaware continued the hot hitting in the top of the fourth. Giattino and Garber worked walks before Blantz doubled home Giattino. Blantz scored on a pass ball, then Costaro blasted a two run home run to center field to put Delaware up 8-3.
Iowa State scored a run on a one-out bases loaded walk before play was halted for a rain delay at 11:40 a.m.
After play resumed at 2:00 p.m., Winburn limited further damage after a run scored on a ground out by getting the final out on a strikeout.
Winburn pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the fifth with two strikeouts and a scoreless sixth inning with just a single allowed.
In the seventh, Iowa State worked two walks, but Winburn got the final out on a ground ball to Blantz at shortstop.

GAMES NOTES

Costaro's four home runs are the most for a Delaware player since 2022, and the most by a Delaware freshman since Brooke Glanden and Brittney Mendoza since 2019.
Garber recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season and third straight.
Blantz recorded her third multi-game and her second consecutive.
Hess has had at least two hits and a double in three straight games.
Winburn picked up her 53rd career win. She has won four straight decisions.

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