April 2, 2009
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Home runs abound in today's doubleheader between the Explorers and the University of Delaware, but the Blue Hens took the final score in both games. Delaware won 6-1 in the first game and 5-4 in the nightcap. The losses drop the Explorers to 3-16, while Delaware moves to 11-12.
Erica Vile and DJ Guinn each belted their first homers of the season in the second game while Gina Massaro smacked one in the first game.
Guinn's blast in the seventh inning of game two cut the Blue Hen lead to 5-4, but Amanda Stacevicz came on in relief of Anne Marie Pagano and recorded three straight outs to end the Explorers' comeback hopes.
The Blue Hens got on the scoreboard early with a run in the top of the first. Michelle Grap drew a two-out walk and was batted home on Kim Ovittore's double to right center.
The Explorers tied it at one when Ali Shepherd drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Shannon Skomorucha home. Vile had led off the inning with a single through the left side, and advanced to third on Skomorucha's double down the left field line. Vile was out at home when Grap threw from third to home on Laura Gallagher's hit. With Gallagher and Skomorucha at first and third, Alicia Dela Rosa drew a walk to load the bases before Shepherd's walk forced the run in.
Quinn Megargel's home run in the top of the third put the Blue Hens back on top 2-1, but Vile's two-run blast in the third put the Explorer advantage at 3-2. Her home run scored Angelina Bisbiglia, who reached on a double when she blasted a ball just above the reach of left-fielder Shanette White.
The score see-sawed again on two Blue Hen runs in the fourth. Caitlin Smith reached base on a single through the left side and Rachel Jones blasted a two-run home run to put the score at 4-3. The Blue Hens added an insurance run in the fifth when Grap scored from third on a passed ball to put the score at 5-3.
Guinn led off the seventh with her home run, but the Explorers were held off for the remainder of the inning.
Pagano earned the win on the mound for Delaware, while Stacevicz picked up the save. Pagano went six full innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, walked eight and fanned seven. Stacevicz recorded one strikeout in three batters faced. Guinn earned the loss for the Explorers. She went the distance, gave up five runs - four earned - on seven hits, walked two and fanned four.
Delaware struck first in game one as well. Megargel led off by reaching base on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. She scored when Ovittore doubled down the left field line.
Massaro, who pitched the first game, tried helping her pitching effort by tying the game with her home run in the third inning.
It was all Blue Hens from there on out though. Ovittore belted a two-run home run in the fifth to also score Megargel, who singled down the left line to lead off the inning. Delaware added three more runs in the seventh. Stacevicz, who pitched game one, led off with a homer to center and three more hits led to two more runs for the final 6-1 score.
Stacevicz pitched all seven innings for Delaware. She gave up one run on seven hits, walked three and struck out six. Massaro took the loss by giving up six runs on 11 hits, while walking two and striking out two.
The Explorers return to action on Saturday for the third of their three doubleheaders this week when they host conference foe Charlotte at 12:00 PM.
