2 0 0 0



1 9 9 9



East Carolina Tournament - Day 1

Delaware 1, LaSalle 0
UNC-Greensboro 1, Delaware 0
February 25, 2000


O'Connell Hurls No-Hitter in Delaware's 2000 Debut

 

GREENVILLE, NC -- The University of Delaware softball team opened its 2000 season in a pair of pitching duals Friday afternoon, downing LaSalle 1-0 on Kristi O'Connell's no-hitter and falling to North Carolina-Greensboro 1-0 in first day action at the East Carolina Pirate Classic.

The Blue Hens (1-1) will face Manhattan at 11 a.m. and host East Carolina 1 p.m. on Saturday to close out pool play. Tournament playoffs will begin Saturday evening and continue with the finals Sunday.

O'Connell, a first team All-America East selection a year ago and a senior from Elmsford, NY (Good Counsel HS), tossed her fourth career no-hitter and the eighth in school history in the Blue Hens' season opening 1-0 win over LaSalle. O'Connell struck out 11 batters on the way to the hurling just the second opening day no-hitter in school history. Patty Freeman blanked Brooklyn College in the 1985 season debut.

O'Connell received the only support she needed for the win with two out in the fifth inning when Chris Brady doubled, Mandy Welch walked, and 1999 America East Player of the Year Lauren Mark (Ursuline Academy) knocked in Brady with a single for the game winner. Mark also hit a double and was 3 for 3 for the game while Brady was 1 for 3. The Hens collected five hits against loser Missy Rorke.

In the second game, UNC-Greensboro blanked the Hens on four hits as Maureen Flynn (3-1) picked up the shutout victory. UNC-Greensboro scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh when Amanda Johnson singled home Keke Grady, who had walked with one out.

The Hens had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth and had runners on the corners in the sixth inning but could not bring a run home either time. St. Joseph's transfer Susan Dugan (0-1) took the loss in her Blue Hen debut despite allowing just three hits and striking out four.

 

Game 1

Delaware..000 001 x - 1 5 0
LaSalle.....000 000 0 - 0 0 1

O'Connell and Wilkins; Rorke and Stomback; 2B: Brady (D), Mark (D); WP: O'Connell (1-0); LP: Rorke (0-1);

 

Game 2

UNC-Greensboro....000 000 1 - 1 3 0
Delaware................000 000 0 - 0 4 0

Flynn and Norris; Dugan and Wilkins; WP: Flynn (3-1); LP: Dugan (0-1)

 

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