PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The University of Delaware softball team defeated Drexel, 2-1, in the opener before falling to the Dragons, 5-4, in the nightcap as both teams opened Colonial Athletic Association play by splitting a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Drexel Field.

The Blue Hens, who are now 5-11-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference following the twinbill split, opened the scoring in the first game by pushing across a run in the top of the third inning. Mary Ann Magee led off the frame by singling to second base and was pinch run for by pitcher Carolynn Sloat. After Michelle Plant (right) was hit by a pitch, both runners advanced a base when Cecile Egan grounded out. Shanette White then hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield, scoring Sloat with the first run of the game.

Delaware added an insurance run in the fifth when Quinn Megargel led off with a single to centerfield, moved to second on a sacrifice by Katie Lee, advanced to third on a groundout by Magee, and scored when Plant singled to left.

The Dragons, who are now 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the league, got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Lena Aiken led off the inning with a home run to rightcenter. Drexel had a runner on second with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Sloat got Amanda Hastings to ground out to second to end the game.

Sloat allowed one run on five hits while striking out three as she improved to 3-5 on the season, while Dragons pitcher Breanna Gomez dropped to 2-2 after giving up two runs on five hits and posting four strikeouts.

Drexel got on the board first in the second game by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Lisa Williams led off the frame with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Aiken, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brianne Brown. The Dragons added a run in the third when Brown homered to center to make it a 2-0 game.

The Blue Hens got a run back in the top of the fourth when Lee drilled a home run to rightfield, her first of the season, and took the lead by scoring three runs in the fifth. Barbara Traynor led off the inning by reaching on an error by the Drexel third baseman, but was erased when Plant reached on a fielder’s choice. Allison Borchers then singled to third base, and after the runners advanced to second and third on a ground out, Kim Ovittore crushed a three-run homer to left, her first of the year, to give Delaware a 4-2 lead.

However the Dragons would answer by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie game. With out out Lisa Williams was hit by a pitch, and one out later Brown homered to centerfield, setting a Drexel record with her ninth career round-tripper. Drexel scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth when Christina Rodriguez singled to center to lead off the frame, stole second, and scored on a one-out single to right by Katrina Gaudier.

Gaudier earned the win for the Dragons and improved to 3-1 after allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two batters. Blue Hen starter Samantha Shawn fell to 2-4 as she gave up five runs, four earned, on six while with six strikeouts in five and a third innings of work, while Sloat did not allow a hit in two-thirds of an inning in relief.

The Blue Hens and Dragons conclude their weekend series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 11 a.m. at Drexel Field.

Boxscore