The Silver Eagles lost to the defending state champions from Caravel 5-0 in a game they needed to play.
  Hodgson looked inexperienced against the Bucs, but Caravel (7-1) can make a lot of teams look that way. Hodgson, which fell to 7-2 overall, had a difficult time in the field and on the base paths mentally this evening.
  Caravel's Jackie Homiak pitched a one-hitter with ten strikeouts. The one hit was by second baseman Nancy Novack in the fourth inning, a solid blast into the left field gap.
  The Bucs broke out on top 1-0 in the third inning after Lindsey Long singled and Kim Helm reached on a error, first baseman and clean-up hitter Erin McGlynn singled to score Long.
  In the fourth, Alexis Niggebrugge singled and was later driven in by Homiak, whose offense has clearly improved over the off-season.
  Caravel advanced a few runners behind throws and behind heads during the game to keep constant heat on, but the Silver Eagles did manage to keep the Bucs from breaking the game open on two occasions. The third inning ended on a flyout doubleplay when Debbie Slifer, the right fielder, caught what was the second out of the inning and threw out a Buc at home trying to score.
  The Bucs also left the bases loaded in the sixth when, with one out, Hodgson pitcher Annie Price got Helm to pop out and McGlynn to fly out to center.
  Ashley Niggebrugge drove in her sister Alexis in the seventh for the fifth Caravel run.
  For Hodgson, Annie Price struck out only two batters, but the Bucs didn't hit her very hard.
  Two Silver Eagle runners were picked off bases. One, after a walk, by catcher Nancy Tokar, and the other was Nancy Novack when she didn't retreat to the base she rounded after her hit fast enough and was nailed before she returned.
  But Hodgson needed to have some of things happen in a game against a team like Caravel so they can make the improvements necessary before playoff time.

All pictures from the Delaware Sports Video Files