photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

VILLANOVA, PA -- The Villanova softball team posted a 12-3 win in five innings in the opener and scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to record a 5-4 victory in the nightcap as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader from Delaware Wednesday afternoon at the VU Softball Field.

The Blue Hens, who dropped to 14-13 on the season, struck first in the opener by scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Katie DeSalvo (at right) led off with a single, moved to second on a single by Katie Lee, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Quinn Megargel, and scored on a passed ball.

Delaware added a run in the second when Michelle Grap led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Allison Borchers, and scored on an RBI single by Michelle Kenney.

However the Wildcats, who improved to 10-12 on the year, took control by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning off UD starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano. Jackie Dempsey led off the frame with a single, and after she went to second when Eryn Teague reached on an error, Dempsey scored on a single by Jessica Curtis. Meghan Morese then singled home Teague to tie the game at 2-2, and Danielle Maricle added an RBI double to put the Wildcats in front. After Allie Heon hit a sacrifice fly to score a run, Carolyn Brown delivered a run-scoring double to put Villanova ahead, 5-2.

The Blue Hens got a run back in the top of the fifth when Barbara Traynor reached on an error and scored when Kim Ovittore reached on an error, but the Wildcats scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Heon drove home the first run of the frame with a sacrifice fly, and Christina Botkins added a two-run double to make it an 8-3 game. Marianne Marinella then relieved Pagano in the circle for Delaware, but Dempsey greeted her with an RBI single. Marinella then retired Teague on a flyout, but Curtis reached on an error and Morese ended the game by drilling a three-run homer.

Laura Determan allowed one run on one hit in three innings of relief to improve to 6-5 for the Wildcats, while Pagano dropped to 8-4 after giving up nine runs, seven earned, on 13 hits in 4.1 innings of work. Cecile Egan went 2 for 2 with a double to lead the Blue Hen attack.

Delaware again took the early lead in the nightcap when the Blue Hens scored three runs in the top of the first inning. DeSalvo led off with a single, and after she stole second, she came around to score when the Villanova rightfielder could not handle Lee’s single. Lee then scored when Megargel reached on another Wildcats error, while Megargel came around to score on a passed ball and a wild pitch.

However Villanova quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the first when Teague reached on an error and scored on a two-run homer by Morese. The Wildcats then tied the game at 3-3 in the third as Dempsey reached on a Blue Hen error, moved to second on a groundout by Teague, advanced to third on a bunt single by Curtis, and scored when Morese reached on a fielder’s choice.

The Blue Hens went right back on top by scoring a run in the top of the fourth when Lindsay Novak led off with a walk, went to third on a double by DeSalvo, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lee.

Delaware maintained its 4-3 lead until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Villanova pushed across two runs to win the game. Heon led off the frame with a single, and she advanced to third when Dempsey reached on an error. After Dempsey stole second, Delaware pitcher Samantha Shawn struck out Teague, but Curtis followed with an infield single to load the bases. Natalie Hord then hit a groundball to Ovittore at shortstop, who threw home to force out Heon for the second out of the inning. However Jess O’Boyle’s groundball was mishandled at third base by Grap, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.

Villanova reliever Kat Walsh improved to 2-3 after allowing one hit in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, while Shawn fell to 6-8 as she gave up five runs, three earned, on seven hits. DeSalvo went 2 for 3 with a run scored for Delaware, while Lee, Caitlin Smith and Grap each had one hit.

The Blue Hens return to Colonial Athletic Association action this weekend when the Blue Hens host Drexel in a doubleheader Saturday at 12 noon and a single game Sunday at 12 noon.

Boxscore