Softball

Delaware Valley College 3, University of Scranton 1 (Game 1)
Delaware Valley College 4, University of Scranton 2 (Game 2)

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The Delaware Valley College softball team moved two steps closer to its first conference playoff berth in 20 years as the host Aggies notched a doubleheader sweep over The University of Scranton, 3-1 and 4-2.

The victories improved Delaware Valley to 15-7 overall and 7-1 in the Freedom Conference. The Aggies are in second place behind King's College (9-1) and they can wrap up one of the four conference postseason berths if they sweep Drew University at home on Sunday (12:00 p.m.).

It would be the team's first trip to the playoffs since 1987 when that squad captured the old MAC-Northern Division regular-season title and went to the postseason. In fact, most of the players on the current roster were not yet born in '87.

Delaware Valley helped put itself in this position on Saturday as the pitching tandem of Kirstyn Ruhling and Jennifer Bummer did not allow an earned run on the day. The Aggies also received a home run from Bethany Pavlik in the first game and a grand slam from Nicole Dorney in the nightcap to key the offense.

The opener saw Delaware Valley strike for two runs in the third inning as Lauren Fenstermacher led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kim Harle. Lacy Miles then followed with a one-hop off the fence in right field for an RBI double. Two batters later, Kelly Andrews drilled a double to right-center to bring home Miles.

Meanwhile, Ruhling was dominant on the mound and had not allowed a hit through five innings. However, in the sixth, Isabel Mendez drew a one-out walk and Mary Beth Vogel followed with a single to left to break up the no-hit bid. Following a pop out, Kasey Borbridge singled to center and the ball was bobbled, allowing Mendez to score and make it a 3-1 game. However, Ashley Regan hit one back to Ruhling, who threw to first to end the threat.

Pavlik (3-for-3) gave the Aggies an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as she smacked her team-best fifth home run and her third in as many games. Ruhling then retired the Lady Royals (3-15, 1-9 Freedom) in order in the seventh to improve to 6-2 on the year. She allowed just the two hits in the sixth and fanned two in seven innings of work.

Delaware Valley struck quickly in the nightcap as, with one out, Miles singled to center and Brittany Stockert reached on an error. Andrews followed with a walk to load the bases and bring up the team's all-time leader in home runs in Dorney. The junior drilled a pitch over the left-center field fence for her second round-tripper of the season and the 15th of her career.

Scranton clawed its way back into the game with single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Vogel notched a two-out, RBI single that scored Bridgett McGinley. In the fourth, a Michelle Ballantyne single into center field brought home Borbridge, but Pavlik gunned down Sarah Capodice at the plate on the same play to leave it a 4-2 game.

The Lady Royals put a runner on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Bummer took care of the threats. She then had a perfect seventh inning, including back-to-back strikeouts, to end the contest and improve to 6-3. She finished with no earned runs allowed and just three hits while striking out eight.

Borbridge pitched well for Scranton and allowed just two hits after Dorney's grand slam. She also fanned five batters.