NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware softball team dropped its first game with the University of Pennsylvania, 4-0, but rebounded to post a 9-1 win in five innings in the nightcap as the Blue Hens and Quakers split a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Delaware Field.

After three scoreless innings in the opener Penn, which is now 2-2 on the season, scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Christina Khosravi led off the inning with a double, but she was thrown out at the plate by Katie DeSalvo when she tried to score on a single by Kelsey Wolfe. However after a single by Alisha Prystowsky moved Wolfe to third, Taylor Tieman hit a sacrifice fly to score Wolfe and give the Quakers the lead.

In the fifth Bridgett McDugall walked and Annie Kinsey singled with one out, and the runners each moved up a base on a wild pitch by Blue Hen starting pitcher Samantha Shawn. Anna Puglisi then hit a groundball to UD shortstop Kim Ovittore, who threw out McDugall at the plate. However Khosravi followed with a three-run homer to left as Penn took a four-run lead.

Quakers pitcher Jessie Lupardus would make the lead stand up, as she threw a three-hit shutout while striking out eight batters to improve to 2-1 on the season. Shawn dropped to 1-3 after allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts in six innings of work, while Michelle Kenney gave up one hit and stuck out one in an inning of scoreless relief. Quinn Megargel (at right) had two hits for Delaware, which is now 3-4 on the year, while Ovittore had one in the opener.

Penn again jumped in front during the second game by pushing across a run in the top of the first. With one out Puglisi singled, went to second on a single by Khosravi, moved to third on a groundout by Wolfe, and scored on an infield single by Prystowsky.

However the Blue Hens would quickly answer by scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame. DeSalvo led off with a single to center, and after she went to second on a single into right by Lindsay Novak, DeSalvo stole third base. Allison Borchers then followed with a single into leftcenter, scoring DeSalvo with the tying run. Two outs later Shanette White beat out an infield single to load the bases, and Megargel tripled to rightcenter, plating three runs to give UD a 4-1 lead and knocking Penn starter Emily Denstedt out of the game.

Delaware maintained its three-run advantage until the bottom of the fourth, while Cecile Egan led off with a single up the middle and DeSalvo reached on a fielder’s choice. Novak then walked to load the bases, and two outs later Jessica Kozlowski walked to force home Egan with UD’s fifth run of the game. DeSalvo then scored on a wild pitch, and two more Blue Hens later scored in the inning on a pair of Quaker errors.

In the bottom of the fifth DeSalvo singled with one out, moved to second on a single by Novak, and scored on a single to rightfield by Borchers to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Delaware freshman Anne Marie Pagano improved to 2-1 on the year after allowing one run on six hits while striking out four batters. Denstedt fell to 0-1 as she gave up four earned runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning for Penn.

DeSalvo finished 2 for 3 with three runs scored for the Blue Hens, while Novak was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored and Borchers went 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Delaware returns to action on Friday through Sunday when Delaware competes in the Norfolk State Spartan Classic.

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