NEWARK, DE -- Blue Hen senior pitcher Carolynn Sloat (at right) threw a two-hit shutout to lead the University of Delaware softball team to a 2-0 win over George Mason in the opener before the Patriots took the nightcap, 6-3, as the teams split a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Delaware, which is now 15-22-2 overall and 6-10 in the conference, struck first in the opener by scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Michelle Kenney led off the frame with a single, and after Cecile Egan bunted for a hit, the runners moved to second and third on a groundout by Shanette White. Kenney then scored the first run when Quinn Megargel grounded out to second, and Katie Lee followed with a single into leftcenter to plate Egan with the second run.

Sloat would make the lead stand up, as she allowed just two singles to Patriots shortstop Kelsey Mack to record the 24th shutout of her career. Sloat struck out five and did not walk a batter to improve to 9-13 on the season, while Mason starter Becky Anderson fell to 6-15 after allowing two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

The Patriots, who are now 16-33 overall and 2-15 in the league, opened the second game by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Allison Bryan led off the with a double to leftcenter, and after Amanda Bach walked, the runners advanced to second and third on a groundout by Mack. Bryan then scored when Anderson beat out an infield single, while Bach crossed the plate when Kristin Dickel hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Lesley Hassen then singled into rightfield to score Anderson, and after Katlyn Winter singled, Michelle Kenney replaced Delaware starting pitcher Samantha Shawn in the circle. Mason added a run in the third when Mack led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Anderson, moved to third on a single to right by Dickel, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hassen.

Allison Borchers led off the bottom of the third with a single into right, and she advanced to third when Katie DeSalvo reached on an error by Bach on her sacrifice bunt. Borchers then scored when Michelle Plant grounded out to second, and while DeSalvo scored when Kim Ovittore followed with a groundout to second.

However the Patriots responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 6-2 game. Dee Murray led off with a single to right, and after she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Meghan Hill, she went to third on a double by Bryan. Sloat then relieved Kenney in the circle for the Blue Hens, and Ovittore then threw out Murray at home as Bach reached on a fielder’s choice. Mack then singled up the middle, scoring Bryan and Bach to give Mason a four-run lead.

Delaware got a run back in the sixth when Megargel singled to center, stole second, advanced to third when the throw by Hassen went into centerfield, and scored when the throw back to the infield by Murray bounced away.

The Blue Hens had two runners on base with two outs in the sixth and seventh, but Anderson got out of each jam to record her first save of the season. Arielle Weinkofsky improved to 5-12 after allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits, while Anderson gave up two hits in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Shawn fell to 4-7 for the Blue Hens after allowing three earned runs on four hits in two thirds of an inning, while Kenney also gave up three earned runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of work. Sloat allowed three hits while striking out two batters in 3.2 innings in the circle.

Megargel and Borchers each went 2 for 4 with a run scored to lead the Delaware attack.

Delaware and George Mason conclude their weekend series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 12 noon at Delaware Field. Blue Hen seniors Plant and Sloat will be honored prior to the game, Delaware’s final home contest of the season.

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