photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

Siena vs. Delaware boxscore
Delaware vs. Fordham boxscore

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The University of Delaware softball team opened its 2009 season by falling to Siena, 5-4 in eight innings, and to Fordham, 1-0, Friday on the first day of the East Carolina Pirate Classic.

In the Blue Hens’ opener Siena (1-4) took the lead in the top of the second inning as Jamie Piela led off with a single to rightfield, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sara Gallacchi, went to third on a groundout by Renee Clavette, and scored on a single to center by Lindsey McKeever.

The Saints added a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Courtney Brinkman led off the frame with a single up the middle, and after stealing second, she advanced to third on a bunt single by Jenny McNulty. After McNulty stole second, she went to third while Brinkman scored on a passed ball. McNulty then scored when Lauren Weingart reached on a fielder’s choice.

Delaware (0-2) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to pull within a run. Michelle Grap (at right) led off with a single to shortstop, and after she went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Jones, Grap advanced to third when Abbie Surosky singled to left. Grap then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Cecile Egan, and Surosky came around to score when Michelle Kenney followed with an RBI single up the middle.

The Blue Hens then took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Amanda Stacevicz started the rally with a leadoff single to left, and one out later Grap walked. Jones then doubled to left to score Stacevicz with the tying run, while Grap crossed the plate when Surosky reached on an error by the Siena shortstop.

The Saints came back to knot the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth as McNulty led off with a single to left and scored on a two-out double to rightcenter by Olivia Calcagnini.

The game remained tied until the eighth inning, when each team began with a runner on second base. Natasha Powlowsky began the top of the eighth by reaching on an error by Kenney, but Weingart was thrown out at the plate to keep the game tied. Blue Hen pitcher Anne Marie Pagano then struck out Calcagnini for the second out of the inning, but Amanda Filippazzo followed with an RBI triple to right as Siena took the lead.

The Blue Hens had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth as Stacevicz was placed on second and moved to third when Lindsay Novak reached on an error. However Filippazzo then struck out Grap, Caitlin Smith and Surosky to end the game.

Filippazzo improved to 1-2 on the season after throwing three scoreless innings of relief, while Pagano dropped to 0-1 as she gave up five runs, three earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts in eight innings of work. Grap led the Blue Hen attack by going 2 for 3 with two runs scored.

In Delaware’s second game of the day, the Blue Hens and Rams (5-5) remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out Samantha Pellechio singled to shortstop and was replaced by pinch runner Jo Krasnisky. Mary Beth Puccio then doubled to center, but Krasnisky was thrown out at the plate by Blue Hen shortstop Kim Ovittore to keep the game scoreless. However Erin Fisher followed with a single to center, plating Puccio with the only run of the game.

Delaware rallied in the top of the seventh, as Ovittore singled to left with one out and Grap followed with a walk. The runners then moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Stacevicz, but Fordham starter Beckah Wiggins got Kenney to ground out to second to end the game.

Wiggins improved to 2-3 for the Rams after she allowed two hits and three walks while striking out two batters. Stacevicz fell to 0-1 after giving up one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts in her Blue Hen pitching debut.

Delaware faces Siena again on Saturday at 3 p.m. on the second day of the tournament.