Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- The Towson University softball team rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Delaware, 7-5, and take the rubber match of the teams' three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Tigers, who improved to 27-15 overall and 10-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association, trailed 5-1 but began their comeback in the top of the fourth inning. Mindy Bean led off the frame with an infield single, and after Stef Streets doubled to leftfield, Erika Stasch singled to center to drive home Bean and make it a three-run game.

In the top of the fifth Sammi DiPompo was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Bean followed with a two-run homer to center to cut the Blue Hens’ lead to one. Streets then drilled the next pitch over the centerfield fence to knot the game at 5-5.

The contest remained tied until the top of the seventh inning, when Emily Gould led off with a single to leftcenter. Anne Marie Pagano then relieved UD starter Amanda Stacevicz in the circle for the Blue Hens, but she threw a wild pitch which allowed Gould to take second base.

Gould then went to third when DiPompo reached on an error by Delaware first baseman Michelle Kenney, and after DiPompo stole second, Bean walked to load the bases.

Streets was then hit by a pitch to force home Gould with the go-ahead run, while DiPompo crossed the plate when Stasch worked a walk. Stacevicz then re-entered the game and retired the next three batters without allowing a run, keeping the Blue Hens within two.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Katie DeSalvo and Quinn Megargel (above right) each worked walks on full count pitches, but Towson relief pitcher Kelly Ebner struck out Michelle Grap on a check swing to end the game.

Ebner improved to 5-5 on the year after striking out seven batters in four innings of scoreless, hitless relief, while Stacevicz dropped to 8-8 as she gave up six earned runs on nine hits in seven innings of work.

The Tigers quickly took the lead in the top of the first inning when Kim Lempa led off with a triple down the leftfield line and scored when Gould followed with a single to left.

However Delaware, which dropped to 18-16 overall and 6-7 in the CAA, quickly answered in the bottom of the frame off Towson starter Shannon Johnston. DeSalvo led off with a single to left, and after she went to second on a passed ball, she scored on a double to rightcenter by Megargel.

Grap (below right) then followed by lacing a home run over the fence in leftcenter, putting the Blue Hens on top, 3-1. The longball was the ninth of Grap’s career, moving her into a tie for third place on the UD career home runs list.

Megargel led off the bottom of the third by drilling a homer to left, her eighth career round-tripper, to make it a 4-1 game. Grap then doubled to center, and two outs later Rachel Jones singled to leftcenter to drive home Grap and give the Blue Hens a four-run cushion.

Megargel celebrated Senior Day by finishing 2 for 3 with two runs scored, two RBI and a walk for Delaware, while Grap was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jones went 2 for 3 with an RBI, while DeSalvo finished 1 for 3 with a run scored.

UD closes out its 2009 home schedule on Wednesday when the Blue Hens host Army in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Delaware Field.