NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware second baseman Allison Borchers (at right) had five hits and scored three runs to lead the Blue Hen softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Rider, 11-3 in six innings and 5-2, Wednesday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Blue Hens, who improved to 13-14-1 this season, won their sixth straight game, the longest winning streak since Delaware won six in a row from March 14-18, 2006. The Broncs fell to 5-19 on the year.

After Megan Kozlowski gave the Broncs the lead in the opener by hitting a home run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Hens responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Borchers led off with a double to centerfield, and after Katie Lee walked, Cecile Egan reached on an error to load the bases. One out later Michelle Kenney singled home Borchers and Lee to give Delaware a 2-1 lead.

The Broncs regained the advantage by scoring two runs in the top of the second on an RBI single by Aimee Schiller, but Delaware answered with two runs in the bottom of the third and never looked back. After Egan led off with a double she scored on a single to right by Kim Ovittore, who advanced to third on an error by the Rider rightfielder. One out later Ovittore scored on a squeeze bunt by Quinn Megargel to make it a 3-2 game.

Borchers tripled to rightcenter with one out in the fourth, and she scored on an RBI single by Lee. After Lee advanced to second on a groundout, she scored when Ovittore singled through the right side as the Blue Hens went ahead 5-2. In the fifth Megargel was hit by a pitch and came around to score when Barbara Traynor doubled to leftcenter. Later in the inning Traynor scored on a groundout by Lee to put Delaware up by five runs.

After singles by Ovittore, Kenney, and Marianne Marinella loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth, Megargel doubled to left to drive home two runs. Jessica Kozlowski then doubled to rightcenter, scoring Marinella and ending the game due to the mercy rule. The Blue Hens pounded out 16 hits in the contest, the most since a 17-hit attack against George Mason on March 11, 2006.

Carolynn Sloat won her third straight decision and improved to 7-7 after allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out four batters. Rider starter Laci Landrum dropped to 1-3 as she gave up six earned runs on nine hits in four innings, while Laura Magliozzi gave up five runs on seven hits in one-plus innings of relief.

The nightcap remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Delaware exploded for four runs to take control of the game. Traynor led off the inning with a walk, and one out later Katie DeSalvo beat out a bunt single. Borchers then doubled to rightcenter to score Traynor with the first run of the contest, and after a flyout Egan doubled to left to plate DeSalvo and Borchers. Ovittore then followed with a double off the centerfield fence to score Egan with the fourth run of the inning.

The Broncs got two runs back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Candice Harris and a sacrifice fly by Katy Mills, but Delaware added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Megargel led off the frame with a walk, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a single into left by Borchers.

Blue Hen starter Samantha Shawn improved to 4-5 after allowing four hits and striking out three in five scoreless innings, while Kenney gave up two earned runs on six hits in two innings of relief. Jessica Holland fell to 2-7 for the Broncs after allowing four earned runs on six hits in five innings of work.

Borchers went 5 for 8 with three runs scored and two RBI on the day for Delaware, while Ovittore had four hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Egan finished the day 3 for 6 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Michelle Plant had two hits in the opner.

Delaware hosts James Madison in a key Colonial Athletic Association series this weekend at Delaware Field. The Blue Hens and Dukes will play two games on Saturday and one on Sunday, with action on both days beginning at 12 noon.

Boxscore