Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEWARK, Del. – The Cornell softball team opened the 2014 Delaware Invitational with a doubleheader sweep, topping both Delaware and Villanova in pitcher's duels on Saturday afternoon at the UD Softball Invitational. The Big Red topped the host Blue Hens 5-3, then knocked off Villanova 2-1 later in the afternoon. After opening the season 2-5, the Big Red has now won three of their last four games to move to 5-6 on the year.

Game 1 - Box Score (PDF)
Sammy Roth shut down the Blue Hens, allowing just one unearned run and scattering eight hits in a complete game victory. She didn't allow a walk while striking out two to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Cornell got all the runs they needed in the second, plating four runners despite just two hits. A hit batter, single and a balk set up Sophie Giaquinto for a sacrifice fly to get the Big Red on the board. JJ Briggs scored a second run with an RBI fielder's choice, followed by two more walks to load the bases. Meg Parker capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-0.

Delaware cut the lead in the half in the bottom of the inning, but Cornell added an insurance run in the third on a two-out run-scoring single by Emily Weinberg. The Blue Hens got that run back in the bottom of the third, but wouldn't get any closer. Cornell's Roth stranded three baserunners over the next two innings before closing the game with consecutive 1-2-3 innings for the win.

Chloe Pendergast, Briggs and Parker each had multiple hits in the game as Cornell had nine hits, all singles. Parker also walked once, while Weinberg was 1-for-2 with two walks.

Game Two - Box Score (PDF)
Game two was Meg Parker's turn to shine in the circle, picking up her third win of the year with a dominant 2-1 victory over Villanova. Parker struck out seven in the complete game victory over the Wildcats, allowing just six total baserunners.

Parker had senior Christina Villalon to thank, as her two-run double in the first was all the Big Red sophomore would need. The drive to center scored both Parker and freshman Jessica Bigbie, both who drew two-out walks.

Villanova's lone run came in the fourth on consecutive singles. Parker had stranded the bases loaded in the third inning, the Wildcats' other best scoring opportunity. With one out and the bases loaded, the sophomore struck out Villanova's No. 3 hitter and induced an inning-ending grounder against their cleanup hitter.

The Big Red had plenty of scoring opportunities, stranding 11 runners on the basepaths, but Parker made sure they didn't need any of them.  

Villalon was 2-for-4 in the game as the team's lone multi-hit batter in the lineup.

Cornell will return to action with a pair of games on Sunday, facing Robert Morris at 9 a.m. and St. John's at 1:30 p.m.