Offense Explodes in Softball's 12-2 Win Over Villanova

Tuesday, April 15

Newark, Del.

6 PM

University of Delaware

28-13

Villanova

22-18-1

Villanova

Delaware

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

Offense Explodes in Softball's 12-2 Win Over Villanova

4/15/2025 8:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware softball defeated Villanova, 12-2 in six innings, for its seventh-straight victory. Sydney Shaffer hit her 14th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game; she's now one home run shy of tying the single-season program record. Delaware's 10-run victory over Villanova was its largest over the Wildcats since winning 12-1 on March 23, 1989. The win also tied Delaware's program record for most consecutive wins via the run rule with four, last done earlier this year from March 6-9 against Coppin State and Drexel.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Shaffer's home run was a three-run shot. She also went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
Katie Scheivert, Chloe Blantz, Sorella Gallucci, and Veronica Diomede all had multi-hit games. All four of them also scored two runs each.
Blantz and Gallucci also had two RBIs each, with Blantz adding a double. Scheivert had one RBI.
Ryleigh Thomas had an RBI triple.
Morgan Hess went 1-for-3 with an RBI. She also pitched 3.2 innings with zero earned runs allowed with three strikeouts.
Mary Beth Cahalan had a run scored, RBI, and a walk.
Billie Kerwood earned the win in relief with 2.1 perfect innings with three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Villanova scored two unearned runs in the first, but Hess stranded a runner at third base with a strikeout. She then pitched a perfect second inning.
Hess worked around two singles in the third inning, picking up another strikeout.
Delaware erupted for six runs in the third inning to take the lead. Gallucci started the rally by reaching base on a hit by pitch as the first seven hitters of the inning all reached base. After Diomede singled, Delaware's first run scored after Scheivert reached on a bunt hit and Gallucci came around to score on an error. Blantz then singled to score Diomede to tie the game and Shaffer walked to load the bases. Cahalan drew a walk to score Scheivert to give Delaware the lead, then Hess brought in Blantz on a single to put Delaware up 4-2. Gallucci capped the inning with a two-run single to put Delaware ahead 6-2.
After Villanova loaded the bases in the fourth, Hess induced an infield fly for the second out. Kerwood came on in relief and left the bases loaded with a strikeout.
Kerwood pitched a perfect first inning in the fifth. Thomas added another run in the fifth with a two-out triple to score pinch runner Grace Hausamann.
Kerwood pitched another perfect inning in the sixth with another strikeout.
A five-spot by Delaware in the sixth inning gave the Blue Hens a run-rule victory, as Gallucci, Diomede, Scheivert, Blantz, and Shaffer all recorded hits in succession to begin the inning. Scheivert singled in Gallucci, Blantz doubled home Diomede, and Shaffer hit a three-run home run to give Delaware a 12-2 victory.

GAME NOTES

Delaware scored at least 10 runs against Villanova for the fourth time in program history (also, April 23, 1985 - 12, March 25, 1986 - 15, March 12, 1989 - 12).
Delaware has 13 victories this season by run-rule.
Delaware has outscored opponents 54-2 over its last six games, and has not given up an earned run in six consecutive games.
Delaware has hit multiple home runs in four consecutive games for the second time this season (March 8-March 15, five games).
Shaffer recorded her sixth multi-hit game in the last seven games, including her fourth three-hit game. She also recorded three RBIs in back-to-back games for the second time this season, also done against Michigan and Florida on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.
Shaffer's home run was the 14th of the season, one shy of tying Mariah Kondravy (2015) and Anna Steinmetz (2016) for the most in a single-season in program history. Her home run was the 19th of her career.
Shaffer also tied Gianna Costaro (2024), Brooke Glanden (2022), and Steinmetz (2018) for eighth most RBIs in a single-season with 38.
Shaffer scored her 37th run of the season as well, tied with Leanna Gearhart (2015) for sixth most in a season in program history.
Shaffer became the fifth player in program history to record 100 total bases in a season, joining Kondravy (117, 2015), Allison Borchers (105, 2006), and Steinmetz (104, 2016 and 101, 2017).
Scheivert stole her 33rd base of the season, tying Halle Kisamore for 10th most all-time in UD history.
Hess has pitched 23.1 straight innings without allowing an earned run.
Thomas' triple was the second of her career, with her first coming last week against Delaware State.
Diomede extended her hit streak to a career-high seven.
Kerwood recorded her 180th strikeout of the season, tying Carolynn Sloat (2006) for second most in program history. She trails only Sloat's 2004 season of 187 strikeouts.
Kerwood's win was her 17th of the season, moving into a tie for sixth most in UD history.

UP NEXT

Delaware heads to Hampton for a three-game CAA series starting with a doubleheader on Friday.

TICKETS
Delaware Softball will celebrate its 50th season as a program during the 2025 season, as presented by Delaware State Parks. Season and single game tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now. The upcoming season will feature cutting-edge renovations, including a state-of-the-art Daktronics videoboard, turf playing surface, LED lighting, and more. Season tickets are now 50% off the single-game rate—just $94 for access to the entire season with general admission seating.

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Hampton

W, 9-0

Apr 18 (Fri)

12 PM

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Kerwood, Billie (17-8)

L: KOBRYN, L. (8-8)

Villanova

Batting:

3B: OSTROWSKI, B 1

RBI: OSTROWSKI, B 2

Base Running:

RUNS: FRANZ, A. 1 ; WAGNER, E. 1

HBP: RUNCO, M. 1

Delaware

Batting:

2B: Blantz, Chloe 1

3B: Thomas, Ryleigh 1

HR: Shaffer, Sydney 1

RBI: Scheivert, Katie 1 ; Blantz, Chloe 2 ; Shaffer, Sydney 3 ; Cahalan, Mary Beth 1 ; Hess, Morgan 1 ; Thomas, Ryleigh 1 ; Gallucci, Sorella 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Scheivert, Katie 2 ; Blantz, Chloe 2 ; Shaffer, Sydney 2 ; Hausamann, Grace 1 ; Cahalan, Mary Beth 1 ; Gallucci, Sorella 2 ; Diomede, Veronica 2