WEST POINT, NY -- Marianne Marinella (top right) hit a three-run homer in the opener while Michelle Grap drilled a grand slam in the nightcap to lead the University of Delaware softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Army, 5-4 and 6-2, Wednesday afternoon at the Army Softball Complex.

Delaware, which improved to 21-19 on the season, struck first in the opener by scoring four unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Barbara Traynor led off by reaching on an error by Army shortstop Chava Bobb, and after she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caitlin Smith, Shanette White reached on another miscue by Bobb. Marinella then drilled a three-run homer to rightcenter, the second home run of her career, to give the Blue Hens the early lead.

After the second out of the inning Katie Lee beat out an infield single, went to second on a walk to Lindsay Novak, and scored on a single to center by Quinn Megargel.

In the top of the third Smith drilled a one-out single to left, and one out later she advanced to second on an error by Bobb. After Amanda Nyisztor singled to third base to load the bases, Smith crossed the plate on a passed ball to give the Blue Hens a 5-0 lead.

The Black Knights, who dropped to 10-36 on the year, got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Cassie Ellington hit a solo home run to rightfield, her first of the season.

Delaware maintained its 5-1 advantage until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Black Knights mounted a rally. With one out Ellington walked, and Laura Baranek then reached on a throwing error by Blue Hen pitcher Samantha Shawn. Melissa Garza followed with a three-run homer to left, her team-high fifth of the year, to cut the Blue Hens’ lead to one.

However Shawn settled down to retire Erin McClain for the second out of the inning. Army’s Veronica Barth then singled up the middle, but since the Black Knights had not informed the umpires that she had reentered the game, Barth was ruled out to end the contest.

Shawn improved to 9-10 on the season after allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits. Army starting pitcher Nicole Talarczyk dropped to 1-6 as she gave up four runs, none earned, on four hits in two innings of work.

Lee went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks, a run scored and a stolen base for the Blue Hens, while Marinella finished 1 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored.

Delaware again opened the scoring in the nightcap by scoring two runs in the top of the first. Lee led off the game by working a walk, and after she stole second, Lee scored on a one-out double to leftcenter by Megargel. One out later Mary Ann Magee singled to rightfield, driving home Megargel to give the Blue Hens the early two-run lead.

The Black Knights answered in the bottom of the second, as Jennae Tomlinson walked with one out and moved to second when Mary Ann Kearney reached on an error by Megargel at third base. After the runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice by Ellington, Baranek lined a two-run double to leftcenter to tie the game at 2-2.

The game remained deadlocked until the top of the fifth, when Delaware scored four runs after the first two batters of the inning were retired. Lee ignited the rally with a single to leftcenter, and after Novak singled to left, Megargel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Grap (bottom right) then drilled a grand slam to rightcenter, her team-leading sixth home run of the season, to give the Blue Hens a 6-2 advantage. Grap’s six home runs are second in a single season at Delaware and the freshman is already tied for seventh on the UD career homers list.

Delaware starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano would take it from there, shutting down Army the rest of the way. Pagano improved to 12-8 on the year after allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, while Barth fell to 7-15 for the Black Knights as she gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits.

Lee went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base for the Blue Hens, while Grap had four RBI and Megargel scored two runs.

Delaware returns to Colonial Athletic Association action on Saturday when the Blue Hens host league-leading Hofstra in a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.

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