University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Baseball Shuts Out Lehigh 5-0 Behind Gatto's Gem in First Round of Liberty Bell Classic
3/27/2012 1:38:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware's Danny Gatto tossed a gem on the mound behind six shutout innings as the Blue Hens shut out Lehigh 5-0 Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at the Lehigh Baseball Field.
Delaware (11-14) capitalized on four errors and two wild pitches by Lehigh (6-17-1) en route to its second shutout victory of the season.
The Hens now move on to the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals where they will meet an opponent still to be determined on Apr .3.
The Blue Hens struck first in the top of the second inning behind walks to Jimmy Yezzo, Tyler Powell, and Brock Niggebrugge. With the sacks packed, a wild pitch uncorked by Lehigh starter Colin Gotzon allowed Yezzo to score the game's first run.
UD took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when DJ Long drew a one-out walk and raced to third on a botched pickoff attempt that resulted in a two-base, throwing error by Lehigh reliever Nick Macaione. A throwing error by Connor Faust on a deep foul pop out behind first base permitted Long to score from third.
Delaware opened up the game in the top of the fifth inning when Cameron Travalini lined a one-out single to right field and was followed by a single to right field by Long. A double steal executed by Travalini and Long put the runners into scoring position for the Blue Hens before Macaione unleashed another wild pitch that plated Travalini. Nick Ferdinand added a RBI double to left field that delivered Long from the base paths. Yezzo then slapped a RBI single that knocked in Ferdinand for Delaware's third run of the inning as the Blue Hens seized a 5-0 edge.
Gatto (2-1) (at right) set the tone for the Blue Hens as he earned his second-straight victory of the season. The right-hander held the Mountain Hawks to six scoreless innings and only yielded three hits while striking out four batters.
Blue Hen reliever Stephen Richter earned his first save of the year after he collected two strikeouts in 1.1 hitless innings pitched.
Eric Buckland, Jeff Murray combined for 1.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Hens and held Lehigh to one hit and two strikeouts.
Gotzon (1-3) suffered the loss for Lehigh after the right-hander allowed one earned run on four walks and three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. The duo of Mike Burke and Dan Ciccone hurled 4.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Mountain Hawks with one hit and three strikeouts. Macaione pitched three innings and yielded four runs (three earned) on five hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Delaware travels to Harrisonburg, Va. this Friday as the Blue Hens tackle Colonial Athletic Association foe James Madison in a three-game, CAA weekend series.
The action begins on Friday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at JMU's Veteran's Memorial Park, the site of the CAA Tournament sets for late May.
