NEWARK, DE -- The Georgia State softball team swept a doubleheader from Delaware, 7-0 and 8-6 in 10 innings, in both teams' Colonial Athletic Association opener Friday afternoon at chilly Delaware Field.

In the opener Georgia State, which improved to 21-6 overall and 2-0 in the conference, struck first by scoring a run in the top of the second inning. With one out Lauren Jones reached on an error by UD rightfielder Katie DeSalvo, went to third on a groundout, and scored on a bunt single by Holly Willis.

The Panthers added a run in the third when Natasha Berry led off with a single, went to second on a groundout, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Jessica Gowin. Gowin ripped another RBI single in the fifth to give Georgia State a three-run lead, and the Panthers put the game away with three runs in the sixth. Danielle Roddy singled home the first run of the frame, and after Jones scored on a Blue Hen error, Berry singled home Roddy to make it a 6-0 game. Lily Skelton added a solo homer in the seventh to conclude the scoring.

Panthers starter Alicia Mills allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out 10 batters en route to her third shutout of the season. Delaware starter Samantha Shawn dropped to 4-5 after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits in the first four innings, while Anne Marie Pagano gave up four runs on six hits in three innings of relief.

Katie Lee had a double while Quinn Megargel (at right) and Caitlin Smith added singles for Delaware, which dropped to 10-8 overall and 0-2 in the conference following the two losses.

The Blue Hens jumped ahead in the nightcap by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out Lee doubled, and after she advanced to third on a single by Megargel. Lee scored on a single to left by Kim Ovittore. One out later Michelle Kenney drilled a double to left, scoring Megargel and Ovittore to give UD the early lead.

The Panthers got on the board in the second on a bases loaded walk to Mills, and Georgia State took the lead with three runs in the fourth. With two outs Roddy doubled home Roles, and Roddy then scored when Berry doubled to leftcenter. Catherine Lee then reached on an error by DeSalvo, allowing Berry to score the go-ahead run.

Ovittore’s RBI single scored Megargel with the tying run in the bottom of the fifth, and the game remained knotted at 4-4 until the top of the ninth inning. Catherine Lee opened the frame by reaching on an error by Katie Lee, and one out later she scored on a single to left by Rachel Cunningham. However in the bottom of the inning Katie Lee and Megargel each reached on errors, and after the duo executed a double steal, Lee scored the tying run on a throwing error by Catherine Lee.

With Megargel on second and one out the Blue Hens had a chance to win the game, but Allison Borchers’ line drive was caught at first base by Gowin, who fired to second to double off Megargel and send the teams to the 10th inning tied at 5-5.

Willis led off the 10th by reaching on a throwing error by UD third baseman Michelle Grap, and after a bunt single by Roddy, Berry reached on an error by Kenney to load the bases with nobody out. After Willis scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, Catherine Lee ripped an RBI single and Berry scored on an error by DeSalvo to give the Panthers a three-run lead. Delaware had a runner on first with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but Barbara Traynor singled and Shanette White scored on a single up the middle by DeSalvo to cut the deficit to two. Katie Lee then walked to load the bases, but Megargel’s fly ball to right was caught by Berry a few steps in front of the fence.

Georgia State pitcher Ashley Cowan improved to 4-1 after giving up six runs, four earned, on 14 hits while throwing all 10 innings. Shawn fell to 4-6 for the Blue Hens as she allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits in the final five innings. Pagano started and gave up three earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings, while Kenney gave up one unearned run in 1.1 innings of work.

Megargel went 3 for 6 with a pair of runs scored for the Blue Hens, while Ovittore and Kenney each had two hits and two runs batted in.

Delaware and Georgia State conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a single game beginning at 12 noon.

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