NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware softball team dropped the opener to UMBC, 6-2, before posting a 2-1 win in the nightcap as the Blue Hens and Retrievers split a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Retrievers, who are now 21-27 on the season, opened the scoring in the first game by pushing across three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Delaware starting pitcher Samantha Shawn retired the first two batters of the inning, but Randi Willey singled to rightfield and Julia Culotta reached on an error by Blue Hen shortstop Lindsay Novak. Jessica Vetock then tripled down the leftfield line to plate both runners, and she came around to score on a double to left by Emily Thompson. Kali Shirk then singled up the middle, but pinch runner Lynn Pronobis was thrown out at the plate by UD centerfielder Katie Lee.

The Blue Hens, who are now 22-23 on the year, got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Marianne Marinella led off with a single into left, went to second on a walk to Quinn Megargel, and scored when Michelle Grap reached on an error by Retrievers shortstop Dana Shepherd. In the bottom of the sixth Amanda Nyisztor singled up the middle with one out, and after Lee singled to leftcenter, the runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Marinella. After Megargel walked to load the bases, Grap worked a bases on balls to force home Nyisztor and make it a 3-2 game.

However UMBC put the game away by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Pronobis led off with a double to leftcenter, and after she advanced to third on a bunt single by Shirk, Pronobis scored when Shepherd’s groundball got by Blue Hen first baseman Shanette White. Shirk then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Gray, and later in the inning Lauren Brummell delivered an RBI triple to close the scoring.

Retrievers starter Stephanie Weigman improved to 12-13 after allowing two runs, one earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts while Shawn fell to 9-13 for the Blue Hens as she gave up six runs, just one earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts. Lee, Mary Ann Magee (above) and Caitlin Smith each went 2 for 4 to lead the Delaware attack.

Delaware, playing its final home games of the season, struck first in the nightcap with two runs in the bottom of the third. With one out Lee beat out a bunt single, and walks to Marinella and Megargel loaded the bases. One out later Magee delivered a two-run single to left, plating Lee and Marinella to give the Blue Hens a 2-0 lead.

UMBC would answer in the top of the fourth, as Brummell worked a one-out walk and advanced to third on a double to leftcenter by Thompson. Culotta then hit a groundball to second, but Nyisztor threw to the plate to gun down Brummell for the second out of the inning. However Vetock followed with a single to left, driving home Thompson with the Retrievers’ lone run of the game.

UD starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano then shut down UMBC in the next two innings and retired the first two batters in the seventh before Shirk worked a bases on balls. Shirk then stole second, and she went to third when the throw from Smith went into centerfield. Pagano then walked Shepherd to put runners on the corners, but she struck out Gray looking to end the game.

Pagano improved to 13-9 after allowing one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts, while Gray fell to 5-9 for the Retrievers as she gave up two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. Lee, playing in her final home game, went 3 for 3 in the second contest with a run scored, while Magee was 2 for 3 with the two RBI.

Delaware travels to James Madison on Saturday for a 3 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader with the Dukes.

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