Blue Hen Softball Defeats Army, 13-2, Falls To Monmouth, 6-3, on First Day of NSU Spartan Classic
February 25, 2012
• Delaware-Army Boxscore
• Monmouth-Delaware Boxscore
NORFOLK, Va. – The University of Delaware softball team posted a 13-2 victory over Army before falling to Monmouth, 6-3, Saturday on the first day of the Norfolk State Spartan Classic.
During the Blue Hens’ first game of the day Army (2-3) took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Alexis AuBuchon singled to centerfield to drive home April Ortenzo, but Delaware quickly answered with five runs in the top of the second.
The Blue Hens, who are now 3-6 on the season, had runners on second and third with two outs when Jess Grisler drilled a two-run double to rightcenter to put Delaware in front for good. Michelle McKinnon (at right) then singled to right to drive home Grisler, while Lara Andrews followed with a two-run homer to center to make it a 5-1 game.
Katelyn Breneman opened the top of the fourth inning with a home run to left for her first career longball, while Maggie Creciun and Grisler each followed with singles. Creciun then scored when McKinnon reached on an error, while Grisler crossed the plate on a bunt single by Andrews. McKinnon then scored when Gina Knutson reached on a fielder’s choice, giving the Blue Hens a commanding 9-1 advantage after three and a half innings.
After Breneman and Creciun opened the fifth with singles, McKinnon blasted a three-run homer to centerfield to put Delaware in front 12-1. Later in the frame Brittney Noons closed the Blue Hen scoring with an RBI double to leftcenter, chasing home Knutson with UD’s 13th run of the contest.
The Black Knights got an unearned run back in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the game ended due to the mercy rule.
Delaware righthander Hannah Rust improved to 2-1 on the season after allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out four in five innings of work. Army starter Morgan Lashley was charged with nine runs, seven earned, on eight hits in three frames and dropped to 2-3 on the campaign.
McKinnon finished 2 for 4 with four RBI and three runs scored for the Blue Hens, while Andrews was 2 for 2 with three RBI. Grisler went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored, Breneman finished 2 for 2 with three runs scored, and Creciun was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored.
Delaware picked up where it left off during its second game of the day, pushing across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first against Monmouth. Grisler led off with a single to right, and after she moved to second on a passed ball, she came around to score when Andrews laced a double to rightcenter. Then with two outs Alicea Coy delivered an RBI single to center, knocking home Andrews to give the Blue Hens an early two-run lead.
However the Mountain Hawks (2-0) got a run back in the second when Kaitie Schumacher drilled a solo homer to center, and took the lead for good by scoring three runs in the fifth. Chelsea Paprocki opened the frame with a walk, and after Jenna Jaquish reached on an error by Blue Hen pitcher Chenxi Jiao, Christine Scherr ripped a three-run homer to left to give Monmouth a 4-2 advantage. The Mountain Hawks then tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Paprocki and Scherr.
Delaware rallied in the seventh inning, as Andrews delivered an RBI single into leftfield to drive home Grisler and make it a 6-3 game. The Blue Hens then loaded the bases with two outs, but Monmouth pitcher Jordan Barnett got Rachel Jones to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Mountain Hawks starter Lauren Sulick earned the victory after allowing two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work, while Barnett picked up her second save as she was charged with just one unearned run on five hits in the final three frames.
UD starter Brianna Jennings allowed one earned run on one hit in 3.1 innings, while Jiao took the loss and dropped to 0-2 after giving up four runs, three earned, on three hits in 1.2 frames of relief.
Andrews finished 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored for the Blue Hens, while Grisler was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and Coy also had two hits on the night.
Delaware faces Monmouth again Sunday at 11 a.m. before taking on host Norfolk State at 3 p.m. to conclude play at the Spartan Classic.
Back To Softball Home Softball Story Archive
