Softball Hits Three Home Runs in CUSA Tournament Victory over New Mexico State

Wednesday, May 6

Newark, Del.

5 PM

University of Delaware

31-22

No .5 New Mexico State

27-26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
New Mexico St.	0	0	0	0	1	6	0	7	9	0
Delaware	3	0	0	3	1	4	X	11	15	0

Photo by: Michael Riccio

Softball Hits Three Home Runs in CUSA Tournament Victory over New Mexico State

5/6/2026 8:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. - No. 4 University of Delaware softball blasted three home runs during the first day of the Conference USA Tournament to defeat No. 5 New Mexico State, 11-7. Maddie Diamond set a new freshman home run record as she hit her 16th and 17th longballs of the season. Allie Nankivell scored her 38th run of the season to set a new program single-season freshman mark. Delaware also set a new program record for home wins in a season with 22.

HEN HIGHLIGHTS

In her first career postseason game, Diamond went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
Bridget Chapman went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run, a double, and a run scored.
Caylon Blazys went 2-for-4 with a three-run double and a run scored.
Nankivell went 3-for-3 in the leadoff spot
Katie Scheivert was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Sorella Gallucci reached base three times with a single, walk, hit by pitch, and scored two runs.
Claire Woods was the winning pitcher, recording the final four outs of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

"The first three hitters for NM State all reached base against Josie Crossman, but a fielder's choice and two flyouts helped her escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam.
Facing First-Team All-CUSA selection Faith Aragon, Delaware had three singles to leadoff the bottom of the first. Gianna Costaro hit a sacrifice fly, then Diamond hit an opposite field two-run home run to put UD up 3-0. The home run was Diamond's 16th of the year, a new single-season freshman record.
Crossman pitched a 1-2-3 second and faced the minimum in the third, helped out by a line-drive double play turned by Gallucci and Costaro.
A two-out single was all NM State was able to muster in the fourth.
Gallucci walked and Blazys doubled to begin the fourth. Chapman then hammered a three-run home run to give Delaware a 6-0 lead.
New Mexico State scored a two-out run in the fifth to get on the board.
Diamond hit her second home run of the night to lead off the bottom of the fifth.
NM State tied the game in the top of the sixth with a six-run inning.
Delaware loaded the bases with two outs. Gallucci was hit by a pitch to give UD the lead, then Blazys cleared the bases with a double to put Delaware up 11-7.
Another line drive double play turned by Gallucci and Costaro ended the game.

GAME NOTES

Maddie Diamond hit her 16th and 17th career home runs, moving past Mariah Kondravy (2015) and Anna Steinmetz (2016) for most by a Delaware freshman in program history.
Diamond's two-home run game was the second of her career, also done on April 2 against UTEP.
Diamond became the seventh player in CUSA history with a multi-home run game, joining Kendal Lunar (NM State - May, 6, 2025), Sophie Weber (WKU - May 9, 2024), Dezianna Patmon (NM State - May 9, 2024), Cori Hoffler (Charlotte - May 11, 2023) Chelsea Troupe (UTEP - May, 7 2009), Ashley Perez (UTEP - May 8, 2008) and Kattrina Dowd (USF - May 10, 2003).
Diamond became the first Delaware player with a multi-home run game in the conference tournament since Brittney Mendoza on May 13, 2021 against Elon. She became the first freshman to do so since Anna Steinmetz on May 10, 2016 against Elon.
Diamond became the first Delaware freshman with two multi-home run games in the same season since Kondravy in 2015.
Diamond now has 46 RBIs, the second most by a Delaware freshman ever. Kondravy had 55 in 2015.
Nankivell has scored 38 runs this season, a new freshman program record. Leanna Gearhart previously scored 37 runs in 2015.
Nankivell recorded her fifth three-hit game of the season. She now has 56 hits this season, the fourth most in program history. Jenny Richards had 63 in 2010 for the record.
Chapman's home run was the fourth of her career and second against New Mexico State this season.
Scheivert scored her 135th career run, tying Jessica Grisler for third most in program history.
Blazys' three RBIs were a career high. She has had four multi-RBI games since April 4 (14 games) and three multi-RBI games over her last six games.
Gallucci's hit by pitch was the 11th of the season. It's the most since Marissa Newman had a program record 16 in 2013 and third most in program history.
Sydney Shaffer (105) and Diamond (101) each have 100+ total bases this season. It's the first time in program history two Delaware teammates have done so in a season.
Delaware has set a new program record for home wins in a season with 22. UD previously won 21 home games in 2000.
Delaware now has 55 home runs this season, two shy of tying last season's record of 57.
Against New Mexico State this season, Delaware is hitting .390/.467/.695 with 10 home runs in four games. Diamond has four home runs in those games and is hitting .500/.600/1.500. Her fellow freshmen teammates Nankivell and Blazys are hitting .500/.500/.500 and .417/.462/.583. Scheivert is hitting .643/.688/.714 against the Aggies.
Delaware has scored six runs in three consecutive games against First-Team All-Conference selection Faith Aragon dating back to its series in April. Overall, excluding Delaware, Aragon has given up at least six runs in a game just five times this season, and just two times in conference play.
Delaware has won the opening game of the conference tournament for the second time in three seasons, also doing so in 2024 against Stony Brook.
Delaware's 11 runs scored was a new conference tournament program record.

UP NEXT
Delaware will play No. 1 seed Jax State tomorrow at noon. Delaware and Jax State have never played each other.

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Woods, Claire (6-6)

L: Zantelle Rodriguez (1-1)

New Mexico St.

Batting:

2B: Devin Elam 1 ; Kendal Lunar 1

HR: Madi Bachman 1

RBI: Devin Elam 1 ; Madi Bachman 4 ; Kendal Lunar 1 ; Destan Burks 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Devin Elam 2 ; Madi Bachman 1 ; Jade Valladares 1 ; Bella Clapp 1 ; Taylor Baca 1 ; Destan Burks 1

HBP: Madi Bachman 1 ; Kendal Lunar 1 ; Jade Valladares 1

Delaware

Batting:

2B: Blazys, Caylin 2 ; Chapman, Bridget 1

HR: Diamond, Maddie 2 ; Chapman, Bridget 1

RBI: Costaro, Gianna 1 ; Diamond, Maddie 3 ; Gallucci, Sorella 1 ; Blazys, Caylin 3 ; Chapman, Bridget 3

SH: Nankivell, Allie 1

SF: Costaro, Gianna 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Nankivell, Allie 1 ; Scheivert, Katie 1 ; Shaffer, Sydney 1 ; Hausamann, Grace 1 ; Diamond, Maddie 3 ; Gallucci, Sorella 2 ; Blazys, Caylin 1 ; Chapman, Bridget 1