DOVER, DE -- The University of Delaware softball team defeated Delaware State, 13-1, and Marist, 3-0, Friday afternoon on the first day of the Capital Classic.

The Blue Hens, who are now 8-6 on the season following the pair of victories, took the lead in their first game of the day by scoring a run in the top of the third inning. With one out Lindsay Novak singled into rightfield, moved to second on a walk to Quinn Megargel, advanced to third when Kim Ovittore reached on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Michelle Kenney.

The Hornets, who fell to 10-5 on the season, tied the game by pushing across a run in the bottom of the fourth against Blue Hen starter Anne Marie Pagano. Sha Tabor doubled with one out in the frame, went to third on a groundout by Andrea Waters, and scored on a single up the middle by Jessica Chrabaszcz.

However Delaware took the lead for good by scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Michelle Grap led off the frame with a single, and one out later Novak singled and Megargel walked to load the bases. Ovittore then singled to rightfield to plate Grap, and Kenney followed with a two-run single to give Delaware a three-run lead. Following a Hornets pitching change Shanette White walked to again load the bases, and Allison Borchers followed with a walk to force home Ovittore.

The Blue Hens then poured in on in the top of the seventh by scoring eight runs. Katie DeSalvo led off with a walk and came around to score when Megargel reached on an error. After a bases loaded walk to White forced home Novak, Borchers lined a two-run single into leftfield to make it an 9-1 game. Katie Lee then reached on an error to load the bases, and one out later Mary Ann Magee drilled a grand slam to leftfield, closing the scoring with the first home run of her career.

Pagano allowed one earned run on four hits in the first four innings for Delaware, while Samantha Shawn (above) improved to 3-4 after striking out three batters in three innings of hitless relief. Brittney Ruark dropped to 6-3 for the Hornets after giving up nine runs, four earned, on 11 hits in 6.1 innings of work.

Borchers went 3 for 3 with three runs batted in for the Blue Hens, while Novak was 3 for 6 with three runs scored. Ovittore went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Kenney finished 2 for 4 with three RBI.

In the Blue Hens’ second game of the day, Delaware and Marist remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when UD scored two runs without the benefit of a hit. Ovittore led off the frame by reaching on a throwing error by Marist second baseman Mary Beth Pomes, and she scored when Kenney reached on a fielding error by Pomes. After walks to White and Lee loaded the bases, Kenney scored on an illegal pitch to give Delaware a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Hens added an insurance run in the fifth when Novak led off with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megargel, and scored on an RBI double by Ovittore.

Pagano improved to 5-2 on the year after allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out two batters in six scoreless innings, while Shawn earned her first career save by allowing a hit and a walk in a scoreless seventh inning. Megan Rigos fell to 4-3 after giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out 12 batters for the Red Foxes, who dropped to 5-8 on the season.

Delaware continues play in the Capital Classic on Saturday when the Blue Hens take on St. Francis (PA) at 9 a.m. and Central Connecticut at 11:30 a.m.

Delaware vs. Delaware State Boxscore

Delaware vs. Marist Boxscore