photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- Blue Hen senior catcher Quinn Megargel (at right) went 3 for 4 with a home run to lead the University of Delaware softball team to a 7-2 victory over UNC Wilmington Sunday afternoon at Delaware Field.

Kim Ovittore, Michelle Kenney and Amanda Nyisztor each had two hits for the Blue Hens, who salvaged the final game of the weekend series to improve to 12-14 overall and 3-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Seahawks, who swept a doubleheader from Delaware on Saturday, dropped to 6-23 overall and 4-5 in conference play.

UNC Wilmington opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Carley Hughes drilled a solo home run to leftfield, her third of the season.

However Delaware would answer in the bottom of the inning as Katie DeSalvo led off with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a bunt single by Megargel, and scored on a single to left by Michelle Grap.

The Blue Hens took the lead for good in the second when Rachel Jones led off with a walk, went to second on a groundout by Shanette White, and scored on a double to left by Nyisztor. One out later Megargel nailed a two-run homer to centerfield, her second of the season and seventh of her career, to put the Blue Hens ahead 4-1.

UD put the game away by scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nyisztor led off by reaching on an error by UNC Wilmington third baseman Michelle Harrison, but she was forced at second when DeSalvo reached on a fielder’s choice. After Megargel singled to left Delaware executed a double steal to put runners on second and third, and DeSalvo crossed the plate when Grap followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

Ovittore then doubled to left to drive home Megargel, and she then scored when Michelle Kenney followed with a doubled to rightcenter.

The Seahawks rallied in the top of the sixth as a single by Ashley Shingleton, a walk to Hughes and a single by Rachel Sawyer loaded the bases with one out. Blue Hen pitcher Anne Marie Pagano then got Allison Lanouette to pop out to second, but Harrison followed with an RBI single to left to make it a five-run game. However Pagano then caught a line drive off the bat of Morgan Walters to escape the jam.

Pagano improved to 8-6 on the year after allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out one for Delaware. UNC Wilmington starter Amanda Aditays fell to 2-9 as she gave up four earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Delaware remains home on Wednesday to host Rider in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.