NEWARK, DE -- Katie DeSalvo (at right) went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Anne Marie Pagano allowed just two hits in four scoreless innings as the Delaware softball team defeated La Salle, 8-0 in five innings, in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Delaware Field. The Explorers came back to win the nightcap, 6-3, as the teams split the twinbill.

The Blue Hens, who are now 6-6 on the season, jumped ahead in the opener by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning when DeSalvo led off with a triple and one out later scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Allison Borchers. Jessica Kozlowski led off the bottom of the second with a double for the Blue Hens, and a single by Megargel and a walk to Katie Lee loaded the bases with nobody out. The next two Delaware batters struck out, but Kozlowski scored when DeSalvo beat out an infield single and Megargel crossed the plate when Lindsay Novak reached on a La Salle error.

Delaware then put the game away by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out Kozlowski and Megargel each reached on Explorers errors, and a walk to Lee loaded the bases. Caitlin Smith then singled to rightcenter to plate Kozlowski, and Michelle Grap followed with a two-run single down the leftfield line to give the Blue Hens a 6-0 lead. Smith then scored the final run of the inning on another La Salle error. In the fifth DeSalvo singled and scored on a triple to rightfield by Kim Ovittore, ending the game due to the mercy rule.

Pagano improved to 4-1 after allowing just two hits and no walks with two strikeouts, while Michelle Kenney gave up one hit and two walks with one strikeout in one inning of scoreless relief. In addition to DeSalvo’s three hits, Smith went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Megargel scored two runs. La Salle starting pitcher DJ Guinn took the loss after allowing seven runs, two earned, on six hits in 2.2 innings of work.

The Explorers, who are now 4-8 on the year, struck first in the second game by scoring a run in the top of the second inning. Michelle Sullivan led off the frame with a single, and after she moved to second on a walk to Kelli Curcio, Sullivan scored on a double by Laura Beth McCreesh. La Salle added a run in the third when Mary Pat Conville singled with one out, went to second on an error by Ovittore, and scored on a single to left by Danielle Signorelli.

Conville beat out an infield single to drive home Alicia De La Rosa with two outs in the fourth for the Explorers, and Angelina Bisbiglia followed with a two-run double to make it a 5-0 game. The Blue Hens got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Megargel doubled to left, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.

La Salle tacked on a run in the top of the sixth inning when Conville doubled to rightcenter, went to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch. Megargel led off the bottom of the seventh with a double for Delaware, and two outs later Michelle Grap drilled a two-run home run to left, the first round-tripper of her career, to cut the Explorers lead to three. DeSalvo then walked, but McCreesh got Novak to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

McCreesh earned the victory after giving up three earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Pagano, who also started the second game for the Blue Hens, fell to 4-2 after allowing five runs, just one earned, on six hits in 3.2 innings, while Kenney allowed one earned run on two hits in the final 3.1 innings.

Megargel finished 3 for 3 with a pair of runs scored for Delaware, while Grap was 1 for 3 with a run scored and two runs batted in.

Delaware returns to action on Friday through Sunday when the Blue Hens compete in the Capital Classic in Dover, DE.

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