NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware sophomore centerfielder Katie Lee (right) drilled a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored the game-winning run later in the frame as the Blue Hen softball team posted a 5-4 comeback victory over UMBC Wednesday afternoon in its home opener at Delaware Field.

The Blue Hens, who improved to 3-3 and snapped a three-game losing streak, trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but junior Michelle Plant and freshman Kim Ovittore each singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After freshman Quinn Megargel popped, out Lee hit a line drive over Retrievers centerfielder Kali Shirk to score both runners and tie the game at 4-4. Freshman Jessica Kozlowski then hit a groundball to UMBC second baseman Ashlea Underwood, but Lee beat Underwood’s throw to the plate to score the go-ahead run.

Delaware junior pitcher Carolynn Sloat walked the Retrievers’ Courtney O’Hara to lead off the sixth, but retired the next three batters to preserve the lead. UMBC had one more chance when Melanie Denischuk singled with one out in the seventh and moved to second on a groundout, but Sloat got Jessica Griffith to line out to Ovittore at shortstop to end the game.

Sloat improved to 2-2 on the season after allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out four. UMBC starter Amy Sadowl, who fell to 2-2 on the year, gave up five earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work before Krista Kearns threw a scoreless sixth inning for the Retrievers.

UMBC, which fell to 9-4 and had an eight-game winning streak snapped, struck first with three runs in the top of the first. Stevie Shore doubled with one out and came around to score on a single to left by Dana Shepherd. After a strikeout Reilly Ward beat out an infield single, and Griffith followed with a two-run double to leftfield as the Retrievers took an early three-run lead.

Delaware answered with a run in the bottom of the frame as sophomore Allison Borchers led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie DeSalvo, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ovittore. Borchers again started a Blue Hen rally in the third with a double to right centerfield, and she advanced to third when DeSalvo beat out an infield single. Two outs later freshman Quinn Megargel walked to load the bases, and Lee followed with a walk to force home Borchers and bring Delaware within 3-2.

Denischuk increased the UMBC lead to two wiith a solo home run to right in the top of the fifth before the Blue Hens took the lead with their three-run rally in the bottom of the frame.

Borchers finished 4 for 4 with a pair of runs scored for Delaware, while Lee was 1 for 2 with three runs batted in and a run scored. Ovittore went 1 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI, while Plant was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Denischuk and Ward each finished with two hits for the Retrievers.

The Retrievers led the second game, 5-2, with one out in the top of the fifth on a pair of home runs by Denischuk, but the umpires stopped the game due to darkness. Since the teams had not completed five innings the contest was declared a halted game. The teams could have resumed the game in the fifth inning at a later date, but the coaches agreed to cancel and game statistics do not count.

The Blue Hens return to action this weekend at the Mason-Dixon Classic in Virginia Beach, VA. Delaware faces Brown at 11 a.m. Friday and Cornell at 3 p.m. later that day.

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