PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The University of Pennsylvania softball team used a pair of three-run sixth inning rallies to sweep a doubleheader from Delaware, 6-4 and 5-4, Wednesday afternoon at Warren Field.

The Quakers, who snapped an eight-game losing streak to Delaware, improved to 7-5 after the two wins, while the Blue Hens fell to 4-9 on the year.

Delaware took the early lead in the opener as Cecile Egan led off the game with a single, stole second, and later scored on a single by Allison Borchers. Quinn Megargel (right) led off the top of the second with a walk, and a single by Katie Lee put runners on second and third with nobody out. One out later Michelle Plant singled home Megargel, while Lee scored on an error by Penn catcher Kaelin Ainley as the Blue Hens took a 3-0 lead.

The Quakers got an unearned run back in the second, as Ainley posted an RBI single following a pair of errors by Plant. Penn loaded the bases in the third as Annie Kinsey reached on an error, Keiko Uraguchi singled, and Stephanie Reichert walked. Kinsey then scored on an RBI groundout by Christina Khosravi, and one out later Brandi King singled to tie the game at 3-3.

Delaware regained the lead in the top of the sixth as Kim Ovittore led off with a walk, moved to third when Lee reached on an error by Quakers leftfielder Susan McIlvaine, and scored on a passed ball. However Penn answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning off Delaware starter Carolynn Sloat.

Melissa Haffner led off the frame with a single, and after a sacrifice, Ainley singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Ainley the stole second, and Kinsey followed with a two-run triple to rightfield to give the Quakers the lead. One out later Reichert singled down the rightfield line, plating Kinsey with an insurance run. The Blue Hens put two runners on base with two outs in the seventh when Mary Ann Magee singled and Allison Borchers reached on an error, but Penn starter Emily Denstedt got Ovittore to ground out to second to end the game.

Denstedt improved to 4-2 on the year after allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits with three strikeouts, while Sloat fell to 2-4 as she gave up six runs, three earned, on 11 hits while striking out five batters.

Penn struck first in the nightcap as Ainley led off the bottom of the third with a home run off Delaware starter Samantha Shawn, but the Blue Hens answered in the fourth when Megargel and Michelle Kenney drilled back-to-back homers. In the fifth Plant singled with one out, but she was erased when Egan reached on a fielder’s choice. Lee then singled to shortstop, and Ovittore followed with a two-run triple to centerfield as Delaware took a 4-1 advantage.

The Quakers got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Teresa Leyden led off with a walk and was pinch run for by Anna Puglisi. She then moved to second on a single by Kinsey, went to third on a bunt single by Uraguchi, and scored on a groundout by Reichert. After Julia Cheney led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, King followed with a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4. Kenney then relieved Shawn in the circle for the Blue Hens, but Haffner greeted her by drilling a home run to give the Quakers the lead.

With two outs in the top of the seventh Ovittore was hit by a pitch and Magee singled, but Erin Boyle got Megargel to ground out to shortstop to end the game. Boyle picked up the win and improved to 2-2 after allowing three hits in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Shawn allowed four runs on seven hits in five-plus innings for Delaware, while Kenney fell to 0-2 after giving up one run on two hits in one inning of work.

The Blue Hens return to action Friday through Sunday when Delaware participates in the Bash at the Beach in Georgetown, DE. Delaware opens play Friday when the Blue Hens face Lehigh at 11 a.m. and St. Peter’s at 1 p.m.

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