Photos courtesy of Chris Permar

Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- Blue Hen sophomore Amanda Stacevicz (at right) fired a four-hit shutout in the nightcap as the University of Delaware softball team salvaged a doubleheader split with Temple Wednesday afternoon at the Delaware Softball Stadium.

The Owls used a five-run third inning to take the opener, 7-5, before the Blue Hens snapped a 10-game losing streak by posting a 2-0 victory in the second game.

Temple, which is now 6-11 on the year, jumped ahead in the first game by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. With one out Samantha Schoell singled and Kayla Cook walked, and after the runners moved up a base on a groundout, Danielle Fagan delivered a two-run double down the leftfield line to put the Owls in front.

However Delaware, which is now 3-13 this season, immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Jenny Richards (at left) led off with a walk, and after she was forced at second on a fielder’s choice, Cecile Egan doubled to centerfield and Michelle Grap reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Michelle Kenney then singled to center to drive home Bertie Lake, and after Egan scored on a single to right by Rachel Jones, Grap crossed the plate on a throwing error by Owls rightfielder Alysse Pujol to give Delaware a 3-2 lead.

However the Owls would take control by pushing across five runs in the top of the third. With one out singles by Schoell and Cook were followed by a walk to Ali Robinson as Temple loaded the bases. Fagan then singled into leftfield to chase home Schoell, while Cook scored on a groundout to second by Michelle Lerner to put Temple in front. Following a walk that loaded the bases, two runs scored on a single to center by Crystal Nyman, while Rachel Knable came around to score from first on a pair of Blue Hen throwing errors.

Trailing by four runs at 7-3, Delaware mounted a rally in the bottom of the fifth to get back in the game. Richards led off by reaching on an error, and Lake followed with a walk to put two runners on base. One out later Grap singled to left to load the bases, and Kenney drove home Richards when she followed with a sacrifice fly to right. Jones then ripped a single to right, plating Lake to make it a 7-5 game.

Delaware had the tying runs on base, but Temple pitcher Kristen Marris retired Mary Ann Magee on a groundout and hurled perfect sixth and seventh innings to cement the win for the Owls. Marris improved to 5-4 after allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits while Blue Hen starter Anne Marie Pagano dropped to 1-4 as she gave up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits.

Delaware jumped ahead in the bottom of the first during the nightcap as Richards led off with a single to center and eventually crossed the plate on a two-out single to centerfield by Grap.

The Blue Hens maintained their slim 1-0 advantage until the top of the sixth, when Temple loaded the bases with nobody out. Marris led off with a single to left, and after Schoell reached on an error, Cook walked as the Owls looked poised to take the lead. But Stacevicz got Robinson and Fagan to pop up in the infield and retired Lerner on a groundout to shortstop to escape the jam.

Grap then led off with bottom of the sixth by working a walk, and after she advanced to second on a single by Stacevicz, the runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Kenney. Jones then hit a groundball to shortstop, but Grap beat the throw to the plate by the Owls’ Christine Sykora to give the Blue Hens an insurance run.

The Owls threatened again by putting runners on the corners with one out in the seventh, but Stacevicz got Marris to foul out to third and struck out Schoell looking to end the game. The shutout was the sixth of her career for Stacevicz, who improved to 1-5 after allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Nyman took the loss for Temple, giving up two earned runs on seven hits while dropping to 1-7 on the season.

Richards led the Blue Hen attack by going 3 for 3 with a run scored, while Stacevicz added a pair of hits. Jones, who went 2 for 3 in the opener, finished the day with three RBI, while Grap posted two hits on the afternoon.

Delaware faces Georgetown and Lehigh on Friday during the first day of the UMBC Spring Classic in Baltimore.