Late Inning Rallies Highlight Delaware Wins Over Army and Marist Saturday at Norfolk State Spartan Classic
March 2, 2013
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Army-Delaware Box / PDF
• Delaware-Marist Box / PDF
NORFOLK, Va. -- The University of Delaware softball team used a 10-run sixth inning to post an 11-1 victory over Army and a four-run seventh during a 5-3 triumph over Marist as the Blue Hens posted two victories Saturday at the Norfolk State Spartan Classic.
The Blue Hens, who are now 9-2 on the season, tied the school record in the opener by drilling four home runs, tying a mark that had stood since the 1977 season. Delaware recorded 14 hits during the contest, as six Blue Hens posted two hits apiece.
Army, which dropped to 2-4 on the year, opened the scoring during the top of the first as Kasey McCravey worked a two-out walk, stole second, and scored on a single to rightfield by Alex Reynolds. However Blue Hen freshman Tori Conrad pulled Delaware even during the bottom of the second when she drilled a leadoff homer to centerfield.
The game remained even until the bottom of the sixth, when UD erupted for 10 runs to put the game away. Marisa Newman ignited the rally by drilling a leadoff homer to left, while Shelby Jones smashed a three-run shot to leftcenter later in the frame to make it a 5-1 game. Michelle McKinnon added a two-run single with two outs, and following an RBI single by Gina Knutson, Kaitlyn Breneman (at right) ended the game when she blasted a three-run homer to leftcenter.
UD freshman Taylor Curran allowed just four hits in 4.2 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win and improve to 2-1 on the season, while Blue Hen starter Hannah Rust gave up one earned run on three hits in 1.1 innings of work. Army pitcher Morgan Lashley went the distance for the Black Knights, falling to 1-4 after she was charged with 11 earned runs during 5.2 innings in the circle.
In the Blue Hens’ second game of the day, Marist scored in the bottom of the first inning when Danielle Koltz drilled a two-out solo homer down the leftfield line.
The Red Foxes, playing their season opener, then tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a two-run shot to leftcenter by Christina Lausch that increased their lead to 3-0.
Delaware got on the board in the top of the fifth when Hannah George led off with an infield single, and after moving to second, she scored when McKinnon legged out a single to first base. The Blue Hens then loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth, but Marist starter Emily Osterhaus got out the jam unscathed.
However Delaware would bounce back with its decisive four-run rally in the seventh. Lara Andrews led off with a single to rightfield, and one out later Newman reached on an error by Koltz at third base.
After Conrad worked a walk to load the bases, Breneman drove a double into the gap in rightcenter to plate a pair, while Conrad also came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild throw by Red Foxes second baseman Haley Birnbaum. Gabby Klecko then hit a groundball to third, but Breneman beat the throw to the plate as UD added an insurance run.
Blue Hen pitcher Kiersten Coffman then retired Marist in order during the bottom of the seventh to lock up the Blue Hens’ third consecutive victory. Coffman improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out eight batters.
Breneman led the Blue Hen offense on Saturday, finishing the day with five RBI, two hits and three walks. McKinnon had four hits and knocked home three, while Conrad added three hits and three walks.
The Blue Hens close out play at the Spartan Classic on Sunday when Delaware faces Army at 1 p.m. and host Norfolk State at 3 p.m.
