Softball Wins Back-And-Forth Affair With UNCW to Clinch Series

Sunday, April 6

Wilmington, NC

12 PM

University of Delaware

23-14, 11-4

UNCW

22-13, 8-7

Delaware

UNCW

Photo by: Michael Riccio

Softball Wins Back-And-Forth Affair With UNCW to Clinch Series

4/6/2025 5:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

WILMINGTON, N.C. - University of Delaware softball defeated UNCW, 6-5, in the rubber match of a weekend series to improve its record to 11-4 in the CAA and 22-13 overall. The Blue Hens erased two two-run deficits in the game to come-from-behind to win.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Morgan Hess earned the win in relief by pitching 2.2 shutout innings with just two hits allowed while striking out five. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and two runs scored.
Sydney Shaffer went 3-for-4 with a double and the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning.
Chloe Blantz was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a run scored.
Mary Beth Cahalan had an RBI single.
Gianna Costaro and Veronica Diomede both went 1-for-3 with sacrifice bunts. Diomede also scored a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UNCW scored two runs in the first inning.
Hess got the scoring started for Delaware with a home run on the first pitch of the top of the second inning to cut UNCW's lead to 2-1.
Billie Kerwood threw scoreless innings in the second and third, allowing just a walk.
In the top of the third, Blantz singled and advanced on a wild pitch before Cahalan singled her in to tie the game.
Delaware took its first lead of the day in the fourth. Diomede and Katie Scheivert each singled before Blantz had a sacrifice fly to put Delaware up 3-2.
The Seahawks answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go back up 5-3.
UD immediately responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to even the score. Hess singled, Lillie Scheivert reached on an error before leaving for a pinch runner, and Costaro moved them both over on a bunt to put two runners in scoring position. Olivia Marinucci pinched hit and scored Hess on a ground ball and Grace Hausamann scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Hess entered to pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out and proceeded to strike out two to strand two UNCW runners on.
In the sixth, Shaffer hit a two-out tie-breaking home run to put Delaware ahead 6-5. Hess struck out two more in a scoreless sixth inning.
Hess pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout in the seventh to secure the win and series.

GAME NOTES

Hess hit a home run and earned the win in the circle in the same game for the fourth time since joining the Blue Hens. She did it twice last year (April 26, April 28 vs Towson) and once earlier this year (March 8 vs Drexel). She also did it six times as a member of Presbyterian.
Hess also recorded her 10th multi-hit game of the season, tied with Katie Scheivert for second most on the team. Shaffer leads the team with 12 after her three-hit game today.
Shaffer's home run was the 18th of her career and 13th of the season. She is tied with Michelle Grap (2010) for third most home runs hit in a season in program history. She trails only Mariah Kondravy (2015) and Anna Steinmetz (2016) for the single-season home run record of 15.
Shaffer has hit nine home runs in her last 11 games.
Cahalan has a hit in a season-best six straight games.
Delaware's series win against UNCW was its first on the road against the Seahawks since 2018. Delaware improved to 41-22 all-time against UNCW.
Delaware recorded its 13th multi-home run game as a team this season.

UP NEXT

Delaware plays a midweek doubleheader on the road against Delaware State on Wednesday before returning to CAA play at home against N.C. A&T this weekend.

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.

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware softball, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.