University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Bats Come Alive as Delaware Evens CAA Series with 16-14 Win Over William & Mary
4/7/2012 5:13:00 PM | Baseball
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The University of Delaware baseball team outlasted the College of William and Mary as the Blue Hens edged the Tribe, 16-14, which evened their Colonial Athletic Association weekend series Saturday afternoon at the W&M's Plumeri Park.
Delaware (15-16, 8-6 CAA) and William and Mary (22-12, 8-6 CAA) combined for 30 runs, 38 hits and used eight different pitchers in the game.
Blue Hens first baseman Jimmy Yezzo paced UD's offense with a season-high four base knocks that lengthened his hitting streak to eight games. Joe Giacchino, Alex Maruri and Nick Ferdinand each collected multiple hits in the slugfest.
In the top of the first the Blue Hens jumped to an early 5-0 lead after Yezzo reached on an infield single. Maruri laced a double to the left-center field gap that plated Yezzo for the game's first run. Ferdinand added a RBI single to left field that delivered Maruri from second base. Cameron Travalini added a single to the left side that advanced Ferdinand to second base for Brock Niggebrugge, who slashed a RBI infield single that plated Ferdinand while Travalini reached second base. Following a double steal that put Travalini on third and Niggebrugge on second, Ryan Hartley drew a walk that loaded the bases. Ty Warrington lined a two-run, two-out single to left field that knocked home Travalini and Niggebrugge.
William and Mary responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first frame and claimed an early 6-4 lead with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
The Tribe added to their lead with five runs over the next two innings and took an 11-5 lead into the fifth inning.
Down by six runs in entering the fifth inning, the Blue Hens mounted four-run rally as Yezzo got the offense going with a leadoff single to right field. Maruri lined a single through the left side that bumped Yezzo to second. Ferdinand added a single that loaded the bases for Hartley, who hammered a two-out single that scored Yezzo. A bases-clearing, three-run triple by Warrington brought the Blue Hens within three, 11-8.
The Blue Hens bats kept rolling in the top of the sixth inning as Giacchino collected a leadoff double down the right-field line. Yezzo followed with an infield single that advanced Giacchino to third base. A fielding error by Tribe second baseman X on Maruri's groundball allowed Giacchino to score and Yezzo to reach second base. Ferdinand's two-run triple to the right-center field wall scored Yezzo and Maruri as Delaware claimed a 12-11 advantage.
William and Mary responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and reestablished a 14-12 lead.
DJ Long singled up the middle in the top of the seventh inning and reached second after a 15-14 in the top of the seventh inning. Giacchino drew a walk for Yezzo, who smashed a RBI double to right-center that Yezzo added a double to right-center that knocked home Long and Giacchino. After Maruri singled up the middle that moved Yezzo to third base, Ferdinand lifted a sacrifice fly that drove in Yezzo as the Blue Hens reacquired a one-run lead, 15-14.
The 30th run of the game was scored by the Blue Hens in the top of the ninth inning after Giachhino and Yezzo tallied back-to-back singles for Maruri, who drove in Giacchino on an infield single.
The Tribe did make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth as William and Mary loaded the bases with one out left in the game, but the Blue Hens held of the Tribe's rally to secure the victory.
Delaware reliever Devon Pearson (4-0) was handed the win after the southpaw tossed 2.2 scoreless innings on the bump with three hits and two strikeouts.
UD reliever Stephen Richter earned his sixth save of the season after he hurled 1.1 hitless innings of relief with three walks and four strikeouts.
Tribe's reliever Jay McCarthy (3-2) received the loss after he was charged with six runs (five earned) on six hits and one walk in 1.1 innings pitched.
Delaware's Corey Crispell earned a no-decision as the right-hander surrendered 11 earned runs on nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings on the mound.
William and Mary's Brett Koehler also received a no-decision for the Tribe after the righty tossed five innings and yielded nine earned runs on 12 hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Delaware looks for the series win completes its Colonial Athletic Association, weekend series with the College of William and Mary on Sunday, April 8. The action is set for 1 p.m at William and Mary's Plumeri Park as the Blue Hens will turn to right-hander Chad Kuhl (1-4, 4.42) while the Tribe counter with lefty Matt Wainman (3-3, 3.66).
