University of Delaware Athletics
The Citadel Scores Seven in First Inning and Holds Off Late Delaware Rally To Defeat Blue Hens, 12-8
2/25/2012 8:25:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel baseball team exploded for seven runs in the first inning and held off a late University of Delaware rally to defeat the Blue Hens, 12-8, Saturday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Delaware, which dropped to 2-4 on the season, struck first in the opening frame Cameron Travalini led off with a single to right and eventually scored on a two-out infield single by Tyler Powell.
However the Bulldogs, who improved to 2-4 on the campaign, quickly took control by pushing across seven runs during the bottom of the inning. Delaware starter Matt Soren retired the first batter but The Citadel quickly loaded the bases when Joe Jackson doubled, Nick Orvin walked and Justin Mackert was hit by a pitch. Drew DeKerlegand then walked to force home the first run of the frame, while Tyler Griffin followed with a two-run double to make it a 3-1 game. Bo Thompson then drilled a three-run homer to leftcenter, and after Ken Fetchko took over on the mound, Calvin Orth doubled and came around to score on a single by Bailey Rush.
Delaware came right back in the top of the second, as Travalini hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Nick Ferdinand (at right) stroked an RBI double down the leftfield line to cut the deficit to 7-3. But the Bulldogs got the two runs back in the fourth when Mackert and Griffin each delivered run-scoring singles.
The Citadel maintained its six-run cushion until the bottom of the seventh, when DeKerlegand doubled to center and scored on a two-out single to rightcenter by Orth to make it a 10-3 contest.
However Blue Hens answered back by pushing across five runs during the top of the eighth to get back in the game. Brock Niggebrugge led off by reaching on an error by Bulldogs pitcher Ross White, while Gary Jones followed by working a base on balls. One out later Travalini reached on a fielder's choice while Jones went to second and Niggebrugge scored on an error to make it 9-4, and D.J. Long followed with a single up the middle to load the bases. Ferdinand then blasted a grand slam over the leftfield fence to bring the Blue Hens within a pair.
But The Citadel would immediately counter, adding a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half without the benefit of a hit. The Bulldogs loaded the bases on three walks by UD reliever Stephen Richter, while Griffin was hit by a pitch to force home Mason Davis to increase the lead to 11-8. Richter then walked Thompson to bring home Orvin with the final run of the contest.
Bulldogs starter James Reeves improved to 2-0 after allowing three earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work, while Zach Sherrill picked up his first save of the year as he fired 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Soren dropped to 0-2 for the Blue Hens after getting charged with six earned runs in a third of an inning. Devon Pearson gave up just two unearned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of relief, while Fetchko and Brandon Hinkle each allowed one run in one inning of work.
Ferdinand paced the Delaware attack by finishing 2 for 5 with five RBI and a run scored, while Travalini was 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Delaware, which had its two-game winning streak snapped after defeating The Citadel on Thursday and Friday, will look to take the series when the teams conclude their four-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.
