University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Drops Regular-Season Finale to Northeastern, 12-9, Behind Seven Run, Seventh Inning
5/20/2012 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – A seven run, seventh handed the University of Delaware baseball team a 12-9 loss to Northeastern in their Colonial Athletic Association weekend series finale Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Sunday's defeat handed Delaware (27-25, 17-13 CAA) an 11-12 home record this season while the victory clinched the CAA weekend series for Northeastern (23-28, 13-17 CAA).
The loss did not affect Delaware's seeding in the upcoming CAA Tournament, as the Blue Hens locked down the third seed and will face Towson in the opening round on Wednesday in Harrisonburg, Va.
The Blue Hens did collect 11 hits in the loss as designated hitter Alex Mottle led the offense with a 3-for-4 day with one RBI and three runs scored. Today marked Mottle's first three-hit game of the year. DJ Long and EJ Stoltzfus each pocketed multi-hit games with two hits apiece. Long finished the regular season with a five-game hitting streak. Stoltzfus tabbed his first multi-RBI game with two on the day.
NU's Aaron Barbosa and Matt Miller accounted for half of the Huskies 12 hits with the duo each hammered three-hit games in the win. Rob Fonseca tallied two RBI and two runs scored to go with a two-hit game.
Trailing by 5-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, Northeastern sent 10 men to the plate and scored seven runs on four hits and one error that opened the scoring over the final three frames of the game. In the final three innings, Delaware and Northeastern combined for 14 of the game's 21 runs.
Delaware did make one final rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Blue Hens, who were trailing by six runs entering their last at bats, put three runs on the scoreboard and had the game-tying run standing in the on-deck circle when the final out was made.
Huskies starter Nick Berger (5-4) came within one out of earning a complete-game victory for Northeastern. The right-hander allowed nine runs (six earned) on 10 hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 8.2 innings on the mound. Berger was replaced by Oliver Hart, who surrendered a hit before striking out Tyler Powell for the final out of the game.
Delaware reliever Brandon Hinkle (1-1) suffered the loss for the Blue Hens as the left-hander was charged with four runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks without registering an out in the seventh inning.
Blue Hens starter Dan Gatto received a no-decision after the righty tossed four innings on the hill and was charged with one unearned on three hits and two strikeouts. Relievers Matt Soren and Nick Stampone combined for one unearned run on two his and one walk in two innings of relief.
