Box Score

Newark, Del. - After beating splitting the first two games of the Delaware Spring Invitational Saturday, the Villanova softball team (9-9, 0-0 BIG EAST) returned to action Sunday morning with game one of a double-header versus host Delaware.

Delaware prevailed in game one 6-4.

The Blue Hens would get on the board first in the bottom half of the third inning as Leanna Gearhart laid down an RBI bunt single off Kate Poppe to give Delaware a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats would get that run right back in the top half of the fourth inning.

Nikki Alden led off the inning with a single up the middle. Chase Snell was up next in the order and she smacked an RBI triple to right center scoring Alden to tie the game at 1-1.

Villanova would strike again in the top half of sixth inning.

With one out, Snell doubled to left center. Aleshia Ayers came in to pinch run for Snell and Lauren Hanna singled up the middle advancing Ayers to third base. Shea Palmer would then RBI single home Ayers to give VU their first lead of the game at 2-1.

Lauren Herschberg would provide the big hit in the inning as RBI singled to left scoring both Hanna and Palmer to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.

The Blue Hens would respond in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Lisa Stacevicz hit a two-run homerun off Poppe to cut the Villanova lead to 4-3. Following the homerun, Poppe got two Blue Hens to ground out and strikeout.

With two outs, Delaware hit back-to-back singles and would eventually tie the game up at 4-4 on a fielding error. Mattie Nuccio would then give Delaware a 6-4 lead as she hit two-run RBI single to left field.

That's all Delaware would need for their 12th win of the year as the Blue Hens closed out the inning with five runs, on five hits, and one fielding error.

Poppe (5-7) took the loss as she went six innings giving up six runs on nine hits while striking out four. Three of the six runs were earned.

Snell went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, triple, and RBI. Herschberg went 1-for-3 with two RBI's.

Be sure to follow the team socially on Twitter @VUSoftball, Instagram @novasoftball and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news scores and highlights from the Wildcats throughout the season.