Boxscore

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Dara Toman and Mimi Mahon each homered during a three-run bottom of the fifth inning for Cleveland State as the Vikings posted a 3-1 softball victory over the University of Delaware Sunday morning at the Marshall Invitational.

The Blue Hens, who have now dropped seven consecutive games while falling to 2-10 on the year, struck first when freshman centerfielder Jenny Richards (at right) led off the contest by drilling a home run to centerfield. The homer was the second of the season for Richards, who leads the team with a .341 batting average and currently boasts a five-game hitting streak.

Delaware looked to extend its lead when singles by Lindsay Novak and Mary Ann Magee put runners on the corners with one out, but Cleveland State pitcher Tess Sito struck out Michelle Grap and got Rachel Jones to ground out to shortstop to escape the jam.

The Vikings, who improved to 8-5, put two runners on base in the first, third and fourth innings, but Delaware starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano held Cleveland State off the board each time as the Blue Hens clung to their one-run advantage.

Sito led off the bottom of the fifth with a single into rightfield, but after she stole second, Sito was thrown out at third by UD leftfielder Cecile Egan while trying to advance on a single by Gabby Gillilan. Alexa Baldasare then relieved Pagano in the circle for Delaware, and she immediately retired Lia Gordon on a groundout to shortstop. However Toman followed with a two-run homer to rightcenter to give the Vikings the lead, and Mahon followed with a longball to leftfield as Cleveland State went ahead, 3-1.

Vikings relief pitcher Amanda Macenko retired Delaware in order in the top of the sixth inning, but the Blue Hens attempted to rally in the seventh. Emily Wilcox led off by getting hit by a pitch, and two outs later a single by Richards put runners on the corners. But Macenko struck out Novak swinging to end the game and record her first save of the season.

Sito won her first decision of the year after allowing one earned run on four hits in the first five innings, while Macenko gave up one hit and struck out three in two innings of scoreless relief. Pagano was charged with one earned run on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work for the Blue Hens, while Baldasare dropped to 0-1 after allowing two earned runs in a third of an inning.

Richards finished with two hits for the Blue Hens while Novak, Magee and Jones each recorded a hit apiece.

Delaware is scheduled to play its home opener at newly-renovated Delaware Field on Tuesday when the Blue Hens host UMBC in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.