University of Delaware Athletics
The Citadel Edges Delaware Baseball, 3-2, in Final Contest of Four-Game Series
2/26/2012 8:28:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Five Bulldogs pitchers combined to allow just two Delaware runs as The Citadel baseball team edged the Blue Hens, 3-2, in the finale of the teams' four-game series Sunday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
The Citadel, which defeated the Blue Hens during the final two contests to earn a split in the four-game series, improved to 3-4 on the season. The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie during the bottom of the third inning when Joe Jackson ripped a two-out double to center, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a balk by Blue Hen starting pitcher Chad Kuhl.
The Citadel added a pair of runs during the bottom of the fifth, as Nick Orvin lined a two-out single to leftcenter to drive home Mason Davis and then came around to score when Justin Mackert drilled a double down the leftfield line.
The Blue Hens, who dropped to 2-5 on the year, looked to answer in the seventh when Delaware loaded the bases with two outs, but Bulldogs pitcher Logan Cribb got Brock Niggebrugge to ground out to shortstop to escape the jam.
However Delaware got back in the game by piecing together a two-out rally in the eighth. With two outs Nick Ferdinand was hit by a pitch, and he moved to second when Alex Maruri singled to rightfield. Zach Sherrill then took over on the mound for The Citadel, but after he uncorked a wild pitch to move runners to second and third, Tyler Powell delivered a two-run double down the rightfield line to pull the Blue Hens within 3-2.
However Sherrill recovered to get Jimmy Yezzo to ground out to second to end the inning, while TJ Clarkson retired the Blue Hens in order in the ninth as The Citadel hung on for the victory.
Cribb fired six scoreless innings of relief to win hits first decision of the season for the Bulldogs, while Clarkson earned his first save of the campaign. Kuhl fell to 0-2 for Delaware after giving up three earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings, before Jeff Murray fired 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and Brandon Hinkle tossed a scoreless eighth.
Powell finished 3 for 4 with the two RBI for the Blue Hens, while Maruri, Ryan Hartley and EJ Stoltzfus (at right) each added a single.
Delaware plays its home opener on Friday when the Blue Hens open a four-game series against Fairfield with a single game beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium.
