WILMINGTON, NC -- The University of Delaware softball team dropped the opener at UNC Wilmington, 11-3 in five innings, but rebounded to defeat the Seahawks, 6-2, in the nightcap as the teams split a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Boseman Field.

The Blue Hens, who are now 14-10 overall and 1-4 in the conference, struck first in the opener by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Katie Lee singled up the middle with one out, and walks to Quinn Megargel and Kim Ovittore loaded the bases. Michelle Grap (at right) then singled up the middle to drive home Lee with the first run of the game, and Allison Borchers followed with an RBI single to score Megargel.

However the Seahawks, who are now 10-17-1 overall and 1-4 in the league, answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Meghan Murray ignited the rally with a leadoff single to leftfield, and she went to third base when Charla Wacker reached on an error by Blue Hen rightfielder Katie DeSalvo. Carley Hughes then singled up the middle to score both runners and knot the game at 2-2. Delaware starting pitcher Samantha Shawn retired the next two batters, but Lindsay Styons singled into left to plate Hughes and give the Seahawks the lead.

UNC Wilmington maintained its one-run advantage until the bottom of the fourth, when the Seahawks scored eight runs to put the game away. Hughes opened the floodgates with an RBI single, and Morgan Walters singled home two more runs to make it a 6-2 game. After Rachael Sawyer doubled home a run, Styons added a two-run single to put the Seahawks up seven runs. Paige Wakefield then capped the rally by hitting a two-run homer to rightfield to put UNC Wilmington up 11-2.

DeSalvo led off the top of the fifth with an infield single for the Blue Hens, but she was erased when Lee reached on a fielder’s choice. One out later Lee stole second and scored on a double by Ovittore, but Grap followed with a flyout and the game ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Brittney Lehrschall improved to 4-4 for the Seahawks after allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out eight batters. Shawn dropped to 6-7 as she gave up 11 runs, just four earned, on 10 hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work.

The Blue Hens took the early lead in the nightcap by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. With one out Lee singled through the right side, and she came around to score when Megargel reached on a throwing error by Seahawks third baseman Michelle Harrison. After Megargel moved to third on a groundout by Barbara Traynor, she scored when Ovittore singled.

In the top of third Lee led off with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megargel, went to third on a single by Traynor, and scored when Ovittore reached on a fielder’s choice.

Traynor led off the top of the fifth by working a walk, and she advanced to second when UNC Wilmington pitcher Amanda Aditays’ throw to second after fielding a groundball by Ovittore was off the mark. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, Grap drilled a three-run homer to rightfield, her third of the season, to put Delaware up 6-0.

The Seahawks got on the board in the bottom of the seventh, as Murray singled to leftfield with one out and moved to second when Wacker reached on an error by Borchers. After both runners moved up a base on a flyout by Hughes, Walters lined a two-run double into rightfield to break up the shutout.

However UD starter Anne Marie Pagano then got Sawyer to pop up to second to end the game, giving the Blue Hens their first conference win of the season.

Pagano allowed just the two unearned runs on seven hits while walking three batters as she improved to 8-3 on the season. Aditays fell to 6-8 after giving up six runs, three earned, on 11 hits with four strikeouts.

Grap finished 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored for Delaware, while Ovittore was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored and Cecile Egan had three hits including a double.

The Blue Hens and Seahawks play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at 12 noon.

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