University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Baseball Falls in Both Ends of Season-Opening Doubleheader at Houston
2/18/2012 2:42:00 PM | Baseball
HOUSTON -- A pair of seven-run innings proved to be the University of Delaware's undoing Saturday as the Blue Hen baseball team dropped both ends of a season-opening doubleheader to host University of Houston at Cougar Field.
The Blue Hens (0-2) built up a 5-0 lead into the eighth inning in the first game only to see it evaporate when the Cougars (2-0) put up seven runs in the bottom of the inning en route to a 7-5 victory. In the nightcap, Houston registered seven runs in the first inning and five more in the fourth stanza on the way to a 16-1 victory.
The two teams will close out the three-game series Sunday in a single game at 1 p.m. (CT) at Cougar Field.
Delaware, under 12th year head coach Jim Sherman, is coming off a 27-26 record a year ago while the Cougars went 27-32 as a member of Conference USA.
In the opener, the Blue Hens built up a 5-0 lead after eight innings as they put up a single run in the fifth on an RBI single to center by Nick Ferdinand and two runs each in the sixth and eighth innings.
The Hens got their runs in the sixth when a fielder's choice by EJ Stoltzfus knocked in a run and Alex Mottle scored on an error by Houston second baseman Taylor White. In the seventh, the Hens pushed the lead to 5-0 on a run-scoring single by Joe Giacchino and an RBI double by DJ Long.
But Houston rallied in the bottom of the eighth, pushing seven runs across the plate on seven hits to take the lead and pick up the victory. An RBI double by Zack Gibson tied the game at 5-5 and Price Jacobs knocked in two runs on an infield hit.
The loss spoiled an outstanding effort by Delaware senior pitcher Eric Young, who went seven brilliant innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters before giving way to the bullpen.
In the nightcap, Houston exploded for seven runs in the first inning and added two more in the third and five more in the fourth on the way to the 16-1 win. The Cougars banged out 15 hits and took advantage of five Delaware errors.
Casey Grayson and Chase Jensen each knocked in three runs and Landon Appling hit a home run in the first inning to lead the Cougar charge. Jordan Lewis pitched 5.2 shutout inning to earn the win.
Delaware scored its only run in the seventh inning on a two-out RBI single by Stoltzfus. Cameron Travalini banged out two hits to pace the Hens.
Long, a pre-season All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, had three extra base hits on the day for Delaware, banging out two doubles in the opener and a triple in the nightcap.
