The Saint Joseph's softball team swept a doubleheader from Delaware in the Hawks' home-opening series on Wednesday. The Hawks got stellar pitching over the two games as they earned 4-2 and 6-2 wins to improve to 12-13 on the season.

In the opener, the Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a solo home run to left field by senior Lauren Reilly.

Saint Joseph's added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth as Caela Abadie scored on a two-out double by Stacey Mayer, and then opened a 4-0 edge in the fifth as Sarah Ostaszewski scored Molly Kapala and Kirstin Cox on a two-out double.

Delaware got on the board in the sixth with a run and cut the Hawks' lead to 4-2 in the seventh. 

With the tying run at the plate, sophomore Ashley Stokes closed the door on the Blue Hens induced a pop fly to end the game.

In the circle, Madison Clarke picked up the win as she allowed just three hits over five innings and added four strikeouts, while Stokes pitched two innings of relief.

In game two, Delaware jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as it took advantage of a pair of Hawk errors.

Saint Joseph's made it 2-1 in the second as Taryn Grober scored off a RBI single by Kirstin Cox, then took the lead in the third behind three runs.

Ostaszewski got the Hawks going in the third as she scored off a RBI single by Grober. A single by Reilly plated Caela Abadie, while a throwing error on the same play allowed Grober push SJU ahead 4-2.

Saint Joseph's added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth off a two-run single by Kapala.

The Hawks' pitching kept the Blue Hens at a distance following the first inning as Chelsea Evans and Ashley Ventura combined to hold Delaware to just two hits over the final six innings with Evans earning her first collegiate win and Ventura picking up the save. Evans recorded a strikeout over four innings, while Ventura worked three scoreless innings in relief.

The Hawks (12-13) are back in action on Friday when they host Fordham. The first game of a doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start.

Follow the Saint Joseph's softball team on Twitter and like the Hawks on Facebook.