Blue Hens’ Comeback Falls Just Short in 5-4 Loss at Army
April 20, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
WEST POINT, N.Y. –The University of Delaware softball team attempted to rally back from a five-run deficit but fell just short as the Blue Hens dropped a 5-4 decision at Army Wednesday afternoon.
After both teams went scoreless during the first inning Army, which improved to 22-18 on the year, took the lead with a two-run outburst in the second. With two outs Angela Deger singled to right field, and after she advanced to second on a wild pitch, Natalia Gruenbaum was hit by a pitch thrown UD starter Hannah Rust. Reanna Johnson then stroked a double to right, chasing home both runners to give the Black Knights an early 2-0 lead.
Delaware, which fell to 14-29 this season, looked to get the runs right back in the top of the third, as the Blue Hens had runners on second and third with nobody out following singles by Jenny Richards and Michelle McKinnon (at right). However Lara Andrews struck out swinging, Richards was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch, and Amanda Stacevicz grounded out to third.
Army added a pair of insurance runs in the third, as Alex Reynolds singled to left with one out and came around to score on a double to rightcenter by Alexis AuBuchon. Stacevicz then replaced Rust in the circle, but after she retired Rachael Duval on a flyout to center, Haley Pypes ripped an RBI double to leftcenter, chasing home AuBuchon with the Black Knights’ fourth run of the day.
Army tacked on its final run in the fourth when Meghan McGowan led off by reaching on an error by McKinnon, went to third on a double by Johnson, and scored when Amanda Nguyen grounded out to shortstop.
The Blue Hens got on the board during the top of the fifth, as Becky Ellis worked a leadoff walk and one out later came around to score on a double to rightcenter by Richards. McKinnon kept the rally going with an infield single, while a walk to Andrews loaded the bases. Army pitcher Shawna Bleyl then struck out Stacevicz looking for the second out of the frame, but Gina Knutson followed with an RBI single to left, driving home Richards to make it a 5-2 contest.
It looked like Delaware would go quietly in the sixth when Bleyl retired the first two batters but Bertie Lake singled to shortstop, Richards walked and McKinnon legged out an infield single. Andrews then singled to first base, chasing home Lake to cut UD’s deficit to two. Stacevicz followed by working a bases loaded walk to force home Richards, before Bleyl retired Knutson on a flyout to right as Army held onto the lead.
Stacevicz held Army without a run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Blue Hens a chance but Haley Pypes, who held UD scoreless through the first four innings, came back in for the seventh and retired Delaware in order to give the Black Knights the one-run victory.
Pypes improved to 10-8 after tossing two-hit ball over five scoreless innings, while Bleyl was charged with four runs on six hits in two innings of work. Rust fell to 0-8 for the Blue Hens after giving up four earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings, while Stacevicz was charged with just one unearned run on three hits in 3.2 frames of relief.
McKinnon paced the Delaware attack by finishing 3 for 4 on the afternoon, while Richards was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Delaware returns to Colonial Athletic Association play on Friday when the Blue Hens host UNC Wilmington in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at the Delaware Softball Stadium.
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