Softball Wins 12th Straight at Home, Clinches Top-Four Seed in CUSA Tournament with 4-2 Victory Over WKU

Friday, May 1

Newark, Del.

5 PM

University of Delaware

30-21, 17-9

Western Kentucky

36-12, 18-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Ky.	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	0
Delaware	0	3	0	0	1	0	X	4	4	0

Photo by: Michael Riccio

Softball Wins 12th Straight at Home, Clinches Top-Four Seed in CUSA Tournament with 4-2 Victory Over WKU

5/1/2026 8:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware softball clinched a top-four seed in next week's Conference USA Tournament and won its 12th straight home game after defeating WKU, 4-2, on Friday, May 1. The victory gives Delaware 30 wins on the season for the third-straight year, the first time in program history. With a win and a Liberty loss to Kennesaw State tomorrow, UD can clinch the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Katie Scheivert, Sydney Shaffer, and Kristen Luzon also became the winningest senior class in program history as they won their 136th game together.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

Sydney Shaffer hit a solo home run and walked.
Bridget Chapman hit a two-run double and scored a run.
Allie Nankivell and Caylin Blazys went 1-for-3. Nankivell also had an RBI single and Blazys scored a run.
Kylie Wilkerson was the winning pitcher in relief after pitching 6.2 innings and allowing no runs and one walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED

WKU scored its only two runs in the first inning.
Delaware took the lead with a three-run second inning. Maddie Diamond worked a leadoff walk and Blazys singled with one out to put two runners aboard for Chapman. Chapman doubled to right-center and advanced to third as Diamond and Blazys scored to tie the game. Nankivell came through with a two-out single to score Chapman and put Delaware up 3-2.
UD added an insurance run in the fifth on a two-out home run from Shaffer.
Wilkerson stranded runners on base in every inning. She left two runners on in the second, a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth, and fifth, and a runner at first in the sixth.
WKU put the tying run at the plate to start the seventh but Wilkerson retired the next three hitters with a strikeout and two pop outs to end the game.

GAME NOTES

Delaware has won at least 30 games for the third consecutive season for the first time in program history. It previously won 30+ games in back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016 and 1999 and 2000.
Delaware has tied its program record set in 2000 with 21 home wins in a season.
Delaware has won 12 home games in a row, its second longest streak in program history. The program record was set in 2000 when UD began the home season with 14-straight wins.
The 12-game home win streak is the seventh longest in Division I currently.
Scheivert, Shaffer, and Luzon have won 136 games as a senior class, setting a new program record previously set by Chloe Blantz and Graceyn Frost.
Wilkerson's outing was her longest of the season. She held WKU to 1-for-14 with runners on base during the game.
Shaffer hit her 40th career home run, becoming the second player in program history to reach the mark. She is four away from Anna Steinmetz's program record of 44.
Chapman has had multiple RBIs in two of her last four games.
Nankivell has reached base in 29 of her last 30 games.
With the win, Delaware can be no worse than a four seed in next week's CUSA Tournament. UD can climb as high as the No. 2 seed with a win and a Liberty loss to Kennesaw State.

UP NEXT
Delaware will play WKU tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. Senior Day will be celebrated after the conclusion of the game.

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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