University of Delaware Athletics
Buckland?s Gem & Ferdinand?s Homer Overpowers Canisius in 9-1 Blue Hens Victory
2/17/2013 6:42:00 PM | Baseball
Due to the cancellation of the Ron Fraser Classic on Saturday because of the weather in the central North Carolina area, Delaware and Canisius scheduled this non-conference game in Wilson, N.C.
Delaware improved to 2-1 over the weekend while Canisius (2-1) lost its first game of the season.
“The team gave an outstanding effort today,” Delaware head coach Jim Sherman said. “Buckland threw his best game of his Delaware career while Ferdinand came up big with a three-run home run in the first inning and Yezzo collected four hits on the day.”
Delaware (2-1) capitalized on three Canisius (2-1) errors while out hitting the Golden Griffins, 12-7 as the Blue Hens collected their second win of the weekend.
“The team gave an outstanding effort today,” Delaware head coach Jim Sherman said. “Buckland threw his best game of his Delaware career while Ferdinand came up big with a three-run home run in the first inning and Yezzo collected four hits on the day.”
Nick Ferdinand smashed his first home run of the season in the top of the first inning as the senior right fielder finished with a 1-for-4 performance with four RBI and three runs scored.
Jimmy Yezzo led the team with four hits, which included three doubles, in the UD victory. The junior first baseman added three RBI and two runs scored for the Blue Hens.
Yezzo extended his hitting streak to 14 games while Ferdinand owns a nine-game hitting streak that started at the end of the 2012 season.
Buckland (1-0) earned the victory in his 2013 debut as the senior right-hander allowed one earned run on six hits, one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings on the mound.
Blue Hen Matt Soren tossed two scoreless innings of relief with one hit and one walk that closed the door and secure the Delaware victory.
Canisius' Devon Stewart (0-1) suffered the loss for the Golden Griffins after he yielded six runs (five earned) on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
The Blue Hens struck first in the top of the first inning when DJ Long hammered a one-out single and advanced to second on Yezzo's first hit of the day. Ferdinand cleared the bases with his first home run of the year, a three-run shot gave the Hens an early 3-0 lead.
Canisius responded in the bottom of the first inning after the bases were loaded after Mike Krische collected a leadoff double, Jimmy Luppens drew a walk. Chris Gruarin lifted a scarifice fly to center field that drove in Kriseche for the Golden Griffins only run of the game.
The Blue Hens offense continued in the top of the second inning after a leadoff single by Ty Warrington and walk drawn by Brock Niggebrugge. The runners were moved into scoring position on Joe Giacchino's groundout for Yezzo, who delivered a two-run double that extended UD's lead to 5-1.
Delaware took a 6-1 lead in the top of the third inning after the Blue Hens played small ball and manufacturing one run. EJ Stoltzfus started the frame with being hit by a pitch and Jake Clark reached on a fielding error by Canisius shortstop Ronnie Bernick allowed Stoltzfus to reach second base. Warrington dropped a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners into scoring position for Niggebrugge, who collected a RBI ground out that drove in Stoltzfus from third.
UD's offense kept rolling in the top of the sixth inning. Niggebrugge reached on a fielding error by right fielder Gruarin and moved to second on Giacchino's single. Yezzo added another RBI double that plated Niggebrugge and moved Giacchino to third base. A Ferdinand sacrifice fly allowed Giacchino to score. A Tyler Powell single gave Delaware runners on the corners. Yezzo scored the game's final run after a double-steal attempt was successful and handed the Blue Hens a 9-1 advantage.
The Blue Hens will travel to Wichita, Kan. on Friday, February 22 for a four-game three-day weekend series against the Wichita State Shockers. Delaware will play a Friday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. in addition to games on Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m. eastern standard time.
Delaware begins its home schedule on Friday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m., when the Blue Hens host Monmouth University for a three-game weekend series at Bob Hannah Stadium.
