PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Junior pitcher Carolynn Sloat (right) threw a one-hit shutout in the opener while Quinn Megargel went 3 for 3 with a home run in the nightcap as the University of Delaware softball team swept a doubleheader from La Salle, 6-0 and 8-1, Wednesday afternoon at Good Shepherd Field.

In the first game Sloat allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine batters as she improved to 12-7 on the year. The shutout was Sloat’s sixth of the season and 20th of her career, while her 46th career win moves her into sole possession of second place on the school’s career victories list.

The Blue Hens, who improved to 23-10 following the sweep, scored all the runs they would need in the top of the first. With two outs Michelle Plant reached on an error, and after she scored on a Kim Ovittore triple, Ovittore crossed the plate on a passed ball. Delaware maintained its two-run lead until the sixth, when the Hens added a pair of runs. With one out Marianne Marinella singled, and one out later Kate Termini singled to put runners on first and second. Katie Lee then doubled both runners home to make it a 4-0 game.

With two outs in the seventh Courtney Kelly was hit by a pitch and Megargel walked, and Marinella followed with a two-run double to close the scoring. Lee and Termini each finished 2 for 3 for Delaware, while Marinella went 2 for 4. La Salle starter Laura DeZolt fell to 7-6 after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits and striking out seven for the Explorers, who dropped to 8-19 on the season.

The Blue Hens wasted little time in taking control of the second game, as Delaware used three hits and four Explorer errors to score four runs in the top of the first. Allison Borchers led off the inning with a single, and after Kelly reached on an error while trying to sacrifice, Borchers scored on a sacrifice by Plant. After Ovittore reached on an error by the La Salle centerfielder, Megargel singled to load the bases. Kozlowski then singled to score two runs and put runners on the corners, and Megargel scored on an error by the Explorer shortstop when Kozlowski stole second.

Delaware added two runs in the fourth as Barbara Traynor led off with a triple and scored one out later on a home run by Borchers. Megargel led off the fifth with a home run to make it a 7-0 game before the Explorers got on the board with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. The Blue Hens capped the scoring in the sixth when Borchers scored on a sacrifice fly by Plant.

Delaware starter Lindsay Jones picked up the win and improved to 10-3 on the year after allowing just three hits and not walking a batter while recording five strikeouts in four scoreless innings of work. Kelsey Knapp gave up one unearned run on three hits while striking out one in the final three innings. La Salle pitcher Lea Corcoran, who gave up six earned runs on nine hits, fell to 0-7 on the season. In addition to Megargel’s three hits, Borchers finished 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBI for the Blue Hens while Kozlowski went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs batted in.

Delaware returns to Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend with a three game series at UNC Wilmington. The Blue Hens and Seahawks will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and a single game Sunday starting at 12 noon.

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