NEWARK, DE -- Blue Hen sophomore shortstop Kim Ovittore (at right) recorded four hits and scored four runs on the day to lead the University of Delaware softball team to a doubleheader sweep of UNC Wilmington, 4-2 and 5-2, Friday afternoon at chilly Delaware Field.

The Blue Hens, who improved to 10-14-1 overall and 4-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, jumped ahead in the opener by scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning. Ovittore led off the frame by hitting a triple to centerfield, and one out later she scored on a single up the middle by Michelle Plant.

The Seahawks, who dropped to 15-24 overall and 5-3 in the conference, answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead. Meghan Murray worked a one-out walk in the fifth, and after she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tori Safrit, Murray scored when Carley Hughes doubled off the leftfield wall. UNC Wilmington took the lead in the sixth as Krista Searle singled to left with one out, moved to second when Paige Wakefield was hit by a pitch, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Charla Wacker, and scored on a single to right by Brittany Wilkins.

However the Blue Hens answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to regain the lead. Cecile Egan started the rally with a single up the middle, and Ovittore followed with an infield single as she hit a line drive off Seahawks pitcher Brittney Lehrschall. Michelle Kenney then lined a double into center to score Egan and advance Ovittore to third, and one out later Ovittore scored the go-ahead run when Quinn Megargel singled to third base. Barbara Traynor then followed with a double to rightcenter to score Katie DeSalvo, who was pinch-running at second base for Kenney.

Kenney, who entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of starter Carolynn Sloat, then threw a scoreless seventh inning to give Delaware the victory. Kenney allowed one hit in 1.1 innings of relief to pick up the win and improve to 2-2, while Sloat gave up two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings or work. Lehrschall dropped to 5-13 after allowing four earned runs on 10 hits for UNC Wilmington.

The Blue Hens again struck first in the nightcap by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ovittore stroked a two-out double to rightcenter to plate Cecile Egan with the first run, and she came around to score when Kenney reached on an error by Seahawks third baseman Michelle Harrison. Katie Lee led off the third with a walk, and after she moved to second on a wild pitch, Lee scored on a double to rightcenter by Egan. Two outs later Plant lined a triple to center, plating Egan with the fourth run of the game.

The Seahawks responded in the fourth when Lisa White singled with one out and Wakefield followed with a home run to right to make it a 4-2 game. However Delaware added an insurance run in the fifth as Ovittore led off with a walk, advanced to second on a groundout by Plant, and scored on a two-out single to left by Shanette White.

Kenney would make the lead hold up for the Blue Hens, as she allowed two hits in three innings of scoreless relief to earn her first career save. Blue Hen starting pitcher Samantha Shawn picked up the victory and improved to 3-5 on the season after giving up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. White took the loss for the Seahawks and fell to 2-6 after allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits while striking out three batters and walking eight.

Ovittore went 3 for 3 with two runs scored in the opener and was 1 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored in the nightcap, while Cecile Egan had three hits and three runs scored on the day for Delaware

The Blue Hens and Seahawks conclude their weekend series on Saturday with a single game beginning at 12 noon at Delaware Field.

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