Costaro Leads Softball to a 12-3, Six-Inning Victory over Liberty

Saturday, March 28

Lynchburg, VA

3 PM

University of Delaware

16-18, 5-6

Liberty

15-17, 8-3

Delaware

Liberty

Photo by: Michael Riccio

Costaro Leads Softball to a 12-3, Six-Inning Victory over Liberty

3/28/2026 7:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware Softball's Gianna Costaro had three extra-base hits and five RBIs to lead UD past Liberty, 12-3 in six innings, to even up the weekend series.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Costaro went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, five RBIs, and two runs scored.
Sydney Shaffer hit a home run, walked twice, drove in three runs, and scored three runs.
Allie Nankivell had three hits and scored three runs.
Bridget Chapman went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Kristen Luzon drove in a pair of runs.
Katie Scheivert had a hit and scored a run.
Jamie Chandler had a pinch-hit RBI single.
Sorella Gallucci drew two walks and scored a run.
Josie Crossman earned the win, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing just one walk.
Claire Woods recorded the save, allowing no hits while getting the final five outs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Shaffer and Costaro set the tone in the first inning, each hitting home runs. Nankivell led off the game with an infield hit before Shaffer homered to left-center. Costaro then homered with two outs to give Delaware an early 3-0 lead.
Crossman pitched a scoreless first inning, with Delaware benefiting from a Liberty runner being called out for leaving early.
Crossman followed with a scoreless second, stranding a runner at second base, and went 1-2-3 in the third.
Liberty scored a run on a two-out double in the fourth to cut Delaware's lead to 3-1.
A single, walk, and an error loaded the bases in the fifth. Costaro cleared them with a double to put UD ahead 6-1.
Liberty got two runs back in the fifth to make it 6-3. Woods came on in relief and recorded two groundouts to limit further damage.
Delaware exploded for six runs in the sixth, its largest inning of the season, to put the game in run-rule range.
Shaffer worked a bases-loaded walk before Luzon hit a two-run single. Costaro added an RBI double to make it 10-3. Chapman and Chandler had back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 12-3.
Liberty had a leadoff walk in the sixth, but Woods retired the next three batters to secure the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Delaware's 12 runs scored against Liberty were the most allowed by the Flame in a conference game since March 31, 2015 and the most allowed by a Liberty in a Conference USA game.
Delaware became the first team to beat Liberty by at least nine runs in a conference game since Radford on March 25, 2017.
Delaware became the first team to run-rule Delaware in a conference game since FIU on March 10, 2024.
Delaware recorded its most runs scored in a season and most runs scored in an inning.
All 18 outs recorded by UD were made by its position players, and Delaware made no errors in all its chances.
Delaware's run-rule victory was the 50th under head coach Jen Steele - compared to just 17 losses - and 22nd in conference play. It's also Delaware's fourth of the season.
Delaware has hit a home run in a season-long seven-straight games. It also hit a home run in seven consecutive games in March of last season.
Shaffer hit her 10th home run of the season and 34th of her career. She has homered in back-to-back games and four times in her last seven games. Her 34 career home runs tie Mariah Kondravy for second most in program history.
Shaffer now has 74 career extra base hits, tying Hanna Garber for third most in program history. She also now has scored 96 career runs and upped her career total bases to 307.
Costaro's five RBIs were a season high and the second most she'd ever had in a game in her career. It's the most she's had in a game since recording six against North Carolina A&T on March 17, 2024.
Costaro's home run was the 14th of her career, tying Gina Knutson for eighth all-time in program history.
Nankivell's three hits tied a career high. She also had three hits against Le Moyne on Feb. 28, 2026. Her three runs scored were a new career high.
Scheivert upped her career hit total to 190 and runs scored to 120. She is seventh in program history in hits and fifth in runs scored.
Luzon extended her hit streak to a career-high six games.
Woods' save was her first in a Delaware uniform and third of her career. She last recorded a save on March 16, 2022 against Austin Peay.

UP NEXT
Delaware plays the rubber game against Liberty tomorrow at noon.

TICKETS
Softball season ticket deposits are available now. Season ticket packages and individual game tickets will go on sale later this winter.

Individual ticket prices will be $10 per game and $5 for youth (ages 3-12). Season ticket packages will be available at 50 percent off the single-game rate. There will also be group rates, incentives, and additional gameday experience opportunities. All seating will be general admission at Delaware Softball Diamond.

UD students will continue to receive free tickets to all home softball games.

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