WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 - U-D Softball Opens 2012 With Win-Loss Split

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Delaware softball team opened its 2012 season on Saturday by falling to host Charlotte, 4-3, before rebounding with a 2-1 win over Presbyterian at the D.L. Phillips Complex.

The Blue Hens wasted little time taking the lead in the opener by pushing across a run in the top of the first inning. Jess Grisler led off with a walk, and after she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Michelle McKinnon and a groundout by Lara Andrews, Grisler crossed the plate when Gina Knutson ripped an RBI single.

Delaware tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth when Marisa Newman was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Grisler drilled a two-run homer to left, putting the Blue Hens in front, 3-0.

However the 49ers would answer back in the bottom of the inning when Lorena Vela singled to left, Alex Rogers walked and Briana Gwaltney blasted a three-run homer to leftfield.

The Blue Hens had a chance to break the tie during the top of the seventh, when UD loaded the bases with one out following singles by Alicea Coy, Grisler and McKinnon. However Maggie Creciun was forced at home when Andrews hit a groundball to short, before Charlotte pitcher Lexi Betancour got Knutson to bounce into a fielder's choice to escape the jam.

Natalie Capone then led off the bottom of the inning by reaching on an error by Blue Hen pitcher Chenxi Jiao, and she moved to second when Gwaltney was hit by a pitch. Jiao then got Jessie Fennell to fly out to center for the first out of the frame, but Chelsea Lisikatos followed with a single down the leftfield line to drive home Capone with the winning run.

Betancour picked up the win for Charlotte after allowing three earned runs on six hits, while Jiao gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in her Blue Hen debut. Grisler was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI in her first career game for UD.

During its second game of the day against the Blue Hose, Delaware again took the early lead by scoring a run in the first inning. Grisler led off with a double to left center, but after McKinnon singled down the leftfield line, she was thrown out at the plate trying to score. However McKinnon advanced to third on a flyout by Andrews and came around to score when Knutson singled to shortstop.

Presbyterian immediately responded during the top of the second, as Tera Powell legged out a two-out infield single to drive home Leslie Hensley and knot the contest at 1-1. However Delaware went back ahead in the bottom of the third as Creciun led off with a bunt single and went all the way to third on the play on a throwing error by Blue Hose third baseman Rachel Hopper, and then scored an a groundout to second by Grisler.

Blue Hen pitcher Hannah Rust would make the slim lead stand up, allowing no hits and a walk over the next three frames. After striking out the first two batters of the seventh Jill McLean singled, but after Powell singled to second base, McLean was thrown out trying to advance to third by Coy to end the game.

Rust earned her first career win as a Blue Hen after allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out six batters. Cat Tarvin took the loss for the Blue Hose as she gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits in five innings of work.

The Blue Hens were scheduled to face Charlotte again on Sunday morning, but the game was cancelled due to cold weather. Delaware returns to action next weekend with five games at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla, including facing Boston College and Binghamton to open play on Friday.

AGATE

Delaware......100 020 0 – 3 6 3
Charlotte.......000 030 1 – 4 7 1

UD: Jiao and Knutson. UNCC: Betancour and Ingersoll. E: Newman (UD), Creciun (UD), Jiao (UD), Lisikatos (UNCC). LOB: UD 7, UNCC 9. 2B: Rogers (UNCC), Slade (UNCC); HR: Grisler (UD), Gwaltney (UNCC); HBP: Newman (UD), Gwaltney (UNCC); SH: McKinnon (UD), Coy (UD), Capone (UNCC), Vela (UNCC); SB: McKinnon (UD), Knutson (UD). Win: Betancour (UNCC). Loss: Jiao (0-1).

Presbyterian....010 000 0 – 1 5 4
Delaware.........101 000 x – 2 4 0

PC: Tarvin, Loudermelk (6) and Taylor. UD: Rust and Knutson. E: Hopper 3 (PC), Hensley (PC). LOB: PC 6, UD 6. 2B: Grisler (UD); HBP: Bonner (PC); SH: Coy (UD); SB: Powell (PC), Tarvin (PC); CS: Durham (PC), Knutson (UD). Win: Rust (1-0). Loss: Tarvin (0-1).