NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware senior Lindsay Jones (right) threw a no-hitter in the nightcap as the Blue Hen softball team split a doubleheader with Lehigh Wednesday afternoon at chilly Delaware Field. The Mountain Hawks took the opener, 4-2, before Jones led Delaware to a 1-0 win in the second game.

The no-hitter was the 14th in Blue Hen history and the first since Jones teamed with Jenn Joseph on a five-inning no-hitter of Rutgers on April 26, 2005. The last no-hitter by a single pitcher was on May 12, 2000 when Kristi O’Connell no-hit Boston University in the America East Tournament.

Jones walked Kate Marvel to open the game but the next batter, Heather Hamasaki, lined out to Michelle Plant at third base, who then threw to first to double up Marvel. Jones then retired the next 19 batters as she faced the minimum 21 hitters in the game. She also finished with four strikeouts to improve to 7-2 on the season and is just the third pitcher in Delaware history to be involved in more than one no-hitter in her career, joining O’Connell (6) and Patty Freeman (3).

The Blue Hens, who are now 16-7 on the season, scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first. Allison Borchers led off the frame by singling up the middle, but she was erased at second when Katie Lee reached on a fielder’s choice. After Lee moved to second on a groundout by Plant, Kim Ovittore doubled to rightfield to score Lee with the game’s lone run.

Ovittore and Borchers each had two hits for Delaware, while Lehigh starter Kate Arico fell to 3-2 after allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work.

Delaware also took the lead in the opener by scoring twice in the bottom of the second. With one out Barbara Traynor singled to rightfield and Kate Termini walked, and the runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Lee. Borchers then drilled a triple to centerfield to put the Blue Hens on top.

However Lehigh, which is now 12-5 on the year, quickly answered with two runs in the top of the third. With one out singles by Kate Marvel, Hamasaki and Taryn Hanley loaded the bases. Lauren Haney then stroked a single to centerfield to score Marvel, and Hamasaki scored when Lee’s throw got by Delaware catcher Jessica Kozlowski.

The Mountain Hawks had a chance to take the lead in the fifth when Lehigh had runners on the corners with one out, but Haney flied out to right and Blue Hen rightfielder Katie DeSalvo threw out Marvel at the plate. In the top of the seventh Marvel bunted for a single with one out and went to second on a walk to Hamasaki. After an out Haney walked to load the bases, and Mary Wieder followed with a two-run single to put Lehigh on top.

Delaware had a chance in the bottom of the seventh as Borchers reached on an error and DeSalvo walked to open the inning, but Lehigh starter Lisa Sweeney got Plant to bounce into a fielder’s choice before Ovittore lined into a double play to end the game.

Sweeney improved to 7-3 after allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts, while Blue Hen starter Carolynn Sloat fell to 8-5 as she gave up four runs, three earned, on 10 hits with four strikeouts. Borchers was 2 for 3 with the two runs batted in for Delaware, while Ovittore and Barbara Traynor had a hit apiece.

Delaware opens Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend when the Blue Hens travel to George Mason for a three-game series with the Patriots. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and a single game Sunday starting at 1 p.m.

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