NEWARK, DE -- Anne Marie Pagano allowed just two earned runs and Caitlin Smith (at right) drilled a two-run homer to lead the University of Delaware softball team past Saint Joseph's, 4-2, Tuesday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Hawks, who fell to 4-11 on the season, opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Dana Bieniek led off with a double to centerfield, advanced to third on a groundout by Laura Cardone, and scored on a single to center by Erika Rosenwinkel.

However the Blue Hens, who snapped a three-game losing streak while improving to 11-9 on the year, answered with a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Quinn Megargel walked with one out, and after Kim Ovittore popped out, Megargel stole second. She then went to third on the play when the throw by Saint Joseph’s catcher Brooke Darreff went into centerfield, and Megargel scored on the play when Cardone’s throw to third got away from Hawks third baseman Sue Lebow.

Saint Joseph’s had a chance to regain the lead in the top of the third when the Hawks loaded the bases with one out on a pair of Blue Hen errors and a batter hit by a pitch, but Pagano struck out Dani Gonzales and Cori Bower looking to end the threat. In the top of the fourth Lebow led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Falk, but Rebeka Shumock flied out to left and Megargel’s throw home nailed Lebow at the plate to keep the game knotted at 1-1.

Delaware then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth by again scoring a run without a hit. With out one Jessica Kozlowski reached on an error by Bieniek at shortstop, and after Cecile Egan and Katie Lee were each hit by a pitch, Megargel worked a bases loaded walk to force home Kozlowski with the go-ahead run.

The Blue Hens added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth when Allison Borchers singled to left and Smith drilled a two-run homer to center, the first home run of her career.

Saint Joseph’s got a run back in the seventh when Rosenwinkel singled home Bieniek, but Pagano got Darreff to ground out back to the mound to end the game.

Pagano improved to 7-3 on the season after allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out six batters for the Blue Hens, while Hawks starter Lauren Cognigni fell to 3-7 as she gave up four runs, two earned, on four hits while posting six strikeouts.

Egan finished 2 for 2 to lead the Delaware attack, while Smith, Borchers and Barbara Traynor each had one hit.

Delaware closes out its homestand Wednesday when the Blue Hens host Delaware State in a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.

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