MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's softball team opened the home portion of its schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Delaware. The Hawks posted a a 5-3 victory over Delaware in the first game and followed with with 7-2 win Saturday at the SJU Softball Field.

In game one, Delaware opened the scoring in the top of the second as Alyshia Dellatore scored on a sacrifice fly, while Gabby Klecko came in to score the second run on an RBI single by Leanna Gearhart with two outs against SJU starter Madison Clarke.

The Hawks answered with four runs in the bottom of the second as Stacey Mayer led off with a solo home run over the wall in left center. After loading the bases, Amanda Kulp drew a walk, scoring Cyndi Wilson, while Taryn Grober followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Kerrie Kortmann to give Saint Joseph's the lead, 3-2. Catcher Kaylyn Zierke reloaded the bases with a single and Sarah Yoos added to the Hawks' lead with a sacrifice fly that plated Madeline Brunck to push the score to 4-2.

Wilson extended the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to right field.

Anna Steinmetz brought Delaware to within 5-3 on a solo home run with two outs in the top of the fifth.

Senior Anna Lauterbach would shut the door from there, throwing two scoreless innings of relief to pick up her third save of the season.

Clarke picked up the win, moving to 5-2 on the year after allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings.

In the nightcap, the Hawks struck for five runs in the bottom of the first. Kulp opened Hawks' scoring coming in on a wild pitch, while Yoos doubled home Zierke and Grober to make it 3-0. Yoos scored on a double by Mayer, and Mayer would come in to score off a fielding error on the Delaware right fielder on a fly ball by Cyndi Wilson.

SJU rookie Ashley Ventura worked out 5.1 innings of work, allowing just two runs, while striking out four to improve to 3-4 on the year.

Lauterbach worked the final 1.2 innings, not allowing a run in picking up her fourth save.

Zierke accounted for an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, while Brunck homered in the sixth for the final two SJU runs.