Delaware Opens Season By Falling To Miami (Ohio), 10-1, and Illinois-Chicago, 9-1, at UCF/Courtyard by Marriott Invitational
February 18, 2011
photos courtesy of Mark Campbell
Miami (Ohio) vs. Delaware Boxscore
Delaware vs. Illinois-Chicago Boxscore
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The University of Delaware softball team opened its 2011 season on Friday by falling to Miami (Ohio), 10-1, and to Illinois-Chicago, 9-1, during the first day of the UCF/Courtyard by Marriott Invitational at the UCF Softball Complex.
In the Blue Hens’ opener, which marked the UD debut of first-year head coach Jaime Wohlbach, the RedHawks opened the scoring in the top of the first inning by pushing across an unearned run. With one out Jordan McElroy reached on a error by UD second baseman Becky Ellis, and she then stole second. Amanda Stacevicz then struck out Daniela Torres for the second out of the frame, but Meghan Mawn walked and Kayla Ledbetter singled to rightfield to drive home McElroy with the first run of the game.
Miami rallied again during the top of the third, as McElroy led off with a single and Torres was hit by a pitch. One out later Ledbetter doubled home McElroy, while Torres then crossed the plate when Taylor Rice reached on a sacrifice bunt as the Redhawks took a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Hens would answer in the bottom of the inning when a single to center by Jenny Richards (at left) and walks to Gina Knutson and Lara Andrews loaded the bases with one out. Miami pitcher Jessica Simpson then struck out Stacevicz, but Michelle Grap (at right) followed with a single up the middle to drive home Richards with Delaware’s first run.
However the RedHawks would put the game away by scoring seven runs during the top of the fifth inning. Rice ignited the rally with an RBI single, and Ledbetter then scored on a passed ball to make it a 5-1 game. Jenna McGivney added a run-scoring double in the frame, and after Shannon Tillett and Kirstie Fehrenbach posted RBI singles, McElroy closed the scoring by delivering a two-run double.
That would be plenty of support for Miami starter Jessica Simpson, who allowed one earned run on three hits in four innings of work to pick up the victory. Stacevicz allowed seven runs, five earned, on six hits while striking out five in 4.1 innings of work, while reliever Hannah Rust gave up three runs on four hits during the final two-thirds of an inning.
In addition to the hits by Richards and Grap, Michelle McKinnon and Samantha Pettie also had singles for the Blue Hens.
During its second game of the day, Delaware jumped in front during the top of the first when Richards led off with a single to centerfield, stole second and third base, and scored on a one-out single to rightcenter by Andrews.
However Illinois-Chicago (4-2) took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Jenna Marsalli drilled a two-run homer, while RBI singles by Natalie Hernandez and Marsalli in the third gave the Flames a 4-1 advantage.
UIC tacked on three runs in the fourth, as Melinda Macias stroked a bases loaded single to drive home a pair and Carly DeMarco followed with an RBI single to center. A triple by DeMarco in the sixth inning drove home Macias to make it an 8-1 game, while DeMarco came home on a fielder’s choice by Marsalli to score the Flames’ ninth run and end the game due to the mercy rule.
Flames pitcher Ashley Hewett allowed one run on four hits to improve to 3-0 on the season. After allowing the first inning run Hewitt gave up singles to Bertie Lake and Pettie in the top of the second, but she would not allow another Blue Hen hit the rest of the way.
Delaware starter Anne Marie Pagano gave up seven earned runs on eight hits in four innings, while Stacevicz was charged with two earned runs in 1.1 frames of relief.
Delaware will look to rebound on Saturday during the invitational’s second day when the Blue Hens take on Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. and host Central Florida at 7 p.m.
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