VILLANOVA, PA -- The Villanova University softball team hit three-run homers in both games as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader from Delaware, 6-4 and 10-0 in five innings, Wednesday afternoon at Villanova Field.

Delaware, which fell to 27-16 on the year, took the lead in the opener when Allison Borchers (right) led off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout by Michelle Plant, and scored on a double to leftcenter by Kim Ovittore. The Blue Hens increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Katie Lee led off with a walk, advanced to second on a Borchers walk, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Katie DeSalvo, and scored on a groundout by Plant.

The Wildcats, who improved to 13-28, tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica Curtis led off the frame with a single up the middle, and Kate Termini’s error on a single by Sheri Donley put runners on second and third with one out. After Meghan Morese followed with a single up the middle to score Curtis and move Donley to third, Laura Determan singled down the leftfield line to plate Donley and knot the game at 2-2.

In the sixth Lisa Curran led off by reaching on an error by Blue Hen first baseman Barbara Traynor, but it looked like Delaware pitcher Carolynn Sloat would work around the miscue as she struck out the next two batters. But after Curran stole second and Cassie Koenig walked, Donley singled down the leftfield line to score Curran with the go-ahead run. Morese then hit a three-run home run to leftcenter to make it a 6-2 game.

Delaware would not quit, as a leadoff single through the left side by Ovittore and a walk to Quinn Megargel in the seventh knocked Wildcats starter Kat Walsh out of the game. Walsh was relieved by Determan, who hit Traynor to load the bases with nobody out. After Jessica Kozlowski flied out to center and Termini struck out looking, Lee reached on a catcher’s interference to bring home Ovittore. Borchers then singled up the middle to score Megargel and pull the Blue Hens within two, but DeSalvo flied out to center to end the game.

Sloat fell to 15-11 after allowing six runs, just one earned, on nine hits while striking out seven in the circle for the Blue Hens. Walsh improved to 9-12 as she gave up four runs, two earned, on three hits while striking out nine and walking 10, while Determan earned her second save of the year after allowing an unearned run in the seventh. Ovittore went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI while Borchers was 1 for 1 with four walks for Delaware, which left 13 runners on base.

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the nightcap in the bottom of the second when Jackie Dempsey beat out a bunt single and scored one out later on a two-run homer to left by Natalie Hurd. Villanova scored a pair of unearned runs in the third to go up 4-0, and ended the game by scoring six runs in the fifth.

Morese led off the inning by working a walk against Delaware reliever Marianne Marinella, who was making her first appearance this season in the circle for the Blue Hens. Determan then singled, and following a groundout Dempsey beat out a bunt single to load the bases. After Lauren Peterson singled home a run Natalie Hord drove home a pair with a single to make it a 7-0 game. After a fielder’s choice Koenig drilled a three-run home run to invoke the mercy rule and end the game.

Determan earned the win for Villanova as she allowed just four hits and struck out seven while not walking a batter to improve to 4-10 on the year. Delaware starter Lindsay Jones dropped to 11-5 after giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits with four strikeouts, while Marinella allowed six runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.

The Blue Hens return to conference action this weekend when Delaware hosts Drexel in a three-game series at Delaware Field. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday, with action on both days beginning at 12 noon.

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