NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware softball team posted a pair of comeback victories to sweep a doubleheader from Hofstra, 2-1 in 11 innings and 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Delaware Field as the Blue Hens qualified for the CAA Tournament.

Delaware will be the fourth seed in the league tournament, which will be held May 11-13 on the campus of the regular season champion, either Georgia State or Hofstra. The Panthers currently hold a half game lead over the Pride with one CAA contest remaining. The Blue Hens, who improved to 33-21 overall and 10-9 in the conference following the pair of wins, have now qualified for the CAA Tournament in four of the five years Delaware has been in the league.

Hofstra, which fell to 32-17 overall and 13-6 in the conference, struck first in the opener by scoring a run in the top of the fourth inning. Laura Sweeney led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line, and after she moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lisa Wambold, she scored on a single up the middle by Ashley Lane.

Delaware tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Quinn Megargel led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield, and she advanced to third when the ball got through Pride leftfielder Melissa Hodge. One out later Megargel scored on a squeeze bunt by Michelle Plant (above) to knot the contest at 1-1. The game remained that way until the bottom of the 11th, when Kim Ovittore led off with a double to rightcenter. After an out, Megargel walked and Jessica Kozlowski singled to left to load the bases. Plant then hit a hard groundball to the left side of the infield, and Ovittore beat Sweeney’s throw to the plate to give the Blue Hens the win.

Delaware pitcher Carolynn Sloat improved to 19-14 after allowing one earned run on six hits and striking out 10 batters, while Pride starter Kayleigh Lotti dropped to 14-7 as she gave up two runs, one earned, on seven hits with 13 strikeouts.

Hofstra again took the lead in the nightcap by scoring a run in the top of the first. Sweeney led off the game with a walk, and one out later she advanced to third while Lane reached base on an error by Blue Hen second baseman Allison Borchers. Tara Ulrich then singled through the left side to score Sweeney with the first run of the game.

The Pride added a run in the third when Sweeney opened the inning by doubling to left and advancing to third on a wild throw by Delaware leftfielder Courtney Kelly. Wambold followed with a sacrifice fly to left to plate Sweeney and give Hofstra a 2-0 lead. The Pride took a three-run advantage in the fifth when Sweeney led off with a bunt single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wambold, advanced to third on a bunt single by Lane and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Ulrich.

However Delaware responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. After an out Katie Lee walked, Ovittore was hit by a pitch and Barb Traynor walked to load the bases. Megargel then singled to left to score Lee and put the Blue Hens on the board, and one out later Plant stroked a two-run single to rightcenter, scoring Ovittore and Traynor to tie the game. Kelly followed with a single to center to score Megargel with the game-winning run.

Erika Bernstein led off the top of the seventh with a bunt single for Hofstra, but she was promptly picked off first base by Megargel. Sweeney followed with a single and one out later stole second, but Delaware pitcher Lindsay Jones struck out Lane to end the game and send the Blue Hens to the conference tournament. Jones improved to 13-7 after allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with six strikeouts, while Hofstra pitcher Courtney Oliver fell to 13-7 as she gave up four earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Blue Hens conclude their regular season on Sunday with a single game against the Pride beginning at 12 noon at Delaware Field. Delaware seniors Jenny Gilkins and Jones will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

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