NEWARK, DE -- Blue Hen senior pitcher Carolynn Sloat (at right) earned her school-record 59th career victory in the University of Delaware softball team's dramatic 9-8 comeback win over UNC Wilmington Saturday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Blue Hens, who swept their first Colonial Athletic Association series since a three-game sweep of the Seahawks on April 24-25, 2004, UNC Wilmington’s last visit to Newark prior to this weekend, improved to 11-14-1 overall and 5-4 in the conference. The Seahawks dropped to 15-25 overall and 5-4 in the league.

Sloat improved to 6-7 this season and to 59-51 in her career to move into first place on the Delaware career victories list. Kristi O’Connell, who pitched from 1997-2000, previously held the record with a 58-33 career mark.

Delaware trailed 8-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth after a four-run inning by the Seahawks before battling back for the win. With two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the fifth Katie DeSalvo struck out, but she reached first when UNC Wilmington catcher Carley Hughes dropped the third strike. DeSalvo then stole second and scored on a single into leftfield by Allison Borchers to cut the deficit to two runs.

After Cecile Egan led off the sixth by reaching on an error, Kim Ovittore walked and Michelle Kenney reached on an infield single to load the bases with nobody out. Egan was thrown out at home plate when Michelle Plant reached on a fielder’s choice, but Mary Ann Magee then singled into left to score Ovittore and make it an 8-7 game. However Seahawks pitcher Brittney Lehrschall retired Barbara Traynor and Marianne Marinella to preserve the lead for UNC Wilmington.

The Blue Hens would respond, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out the victory. Lehrschall retired Borchers on a pop out to open the frame, but she then walked Lee and Egan. Ovittore then ripped a double down the third base line, plating Lee with the tying run and advancing Egan to third. After Michelle Kenney was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Plant worked a five-pitch walk to force home Egan with the game-winning run.

Sloat allowed four runs, one earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work to earn the victory for the Blue Hens. Kenney gave up one earned run on four hits in two innings of relief, while Samantha Shawn allowed three earned runs on three hits in two thirds of an inning. Lehrschall dropped to 5-14 after allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits in five innings, while Lisa White gave up four runs, three earned, on two hits in 1.1 innings or work.

The Blue Hens jumped ahead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Borchers led off the frame with a single, Lee walked and Egan reached on an error to load the bases with nobody out. Ovittore then hit a groundball to Seahawks shortstop Charla Wacker, and Borchers scored when Wacker’s throw to the plate bounced away from UNC Wilmington catcher Carley Hughes. Kenney then followed with a single up the middle, scoring Lee and Egan to give Delaware an early 3-0 lead.

However the Seahawks quickly answered by scoring three runs in the top of the second to tie the game. After Paige Wakefield led off with a single, Brittany Straughn singled to left and the runners advanced to second and third when the ball got through Blue Hen leftfielder Shanette White. Wakefield then scored when Jenna Marcum reached on an error by Borchers, and later in the inning Hughes singled home two runs to knot the game at 3-3.

The Blue Hens regained the lead in the bottom of the second when Borchers led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball. Delaware added a run in the frame when Egan singled, moved to second on a walk to Kenney, and scored when Plant reached on an error by Wacker.

The Seahawks got a run back in the third as Wakefield singled, went to second on a groundout by Straughn, and scored on a single to left by Marcum. UNC Wilmington then took the lead by scoring four runs in the fifth. Wakefield started the rally with a single, and after she advanced to second on a passed ball, she scored on a one-out single by Marcum. Meghan Murray then doubled to leftcenter to score Marcum, giving the Seahawks a 6-5 lead and knocking Shawn out of the game. Morgan Walters then singled to left off Sloat, and after an out, Hughes singled home two runs to make it a three-run game before the Blue Hens mounted the comeback.

Borchers went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI for Delaware, while Kenney finished 2 for 3 with a pair of runs batted in.

Delaware remains home on Wednesday when the Blue Hens host Rider in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

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