University of Delaware Athletics
Home Runs and Dominant Pitching Propel Delaware to 8-0 Shutout Win over Towson in CAA Action
3/9/2013 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (8-4, 2-0 CAA) owns five-game winning streak following Saturday's shutout while Towson (6-6, 0-2 CAA) has lost its last three games. Saturday's win marks six-straight CAA road series victories for the Blue Hens since last season.
Davis (2-2) and Soren combined for Delaware's first shutout of the season for as the right-handed duo held Towson to six hits, five walks and eight strikeouts.
Through the first two games of the series Blue Hen pitching has registered 18.1 scoreless innings pitched against the Tigers.
“If we are going to be consistently good in the CAA we have to have quality starting pitching,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “Other than the two runs in the first inning yesterday, we got things rolling and put together a really good run.”
The Blue Hens offense hammered 14 hits in the victory as Long's second four-hit game of his career led all UD batters. Long collected his first two home run game with a pair of solo blasts in the fourth and ninth innings.
“DJ has been battling early in the season and it was only a matter of time before he got his swing back,” said Sherman. “I like him in the middle of the order now because he is able to use his power.”
Ferdinand's ninth-inning home run was the front half of back-to-back solo shots completed by Long in the final frame.
Ty Warrington went 2-for-4 with two run-scoring singles in the second and sixth innings. EJ Stoltzfus added a back-breaking two-run double to the center field wall in the eighth inning after he entered the game as a defensive replacement earlier in the ballgame.
Joe Giacchino and Zach Lopes extended their hitting streaks to eight and seven games respectively while Jimmy Yezzo saw his 22-game hitting streak end.
Domonic Fratantuono led the Tigers offense with two of Towson's six hits in the loss.
Paul Beers (0-2) suffered the loss for the Tigers after the right-hander yielded three runs (two earned) on seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Delaware looks for its first three-game sweep of Towson since 2002 on Sunday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m. at Schuerholz Park.
“We won another series on the road and have this sense that we are able to do this consistently,” said Sherman. “Now we are in position for a sweep if we take care of business.”
Right-hander Eric Buckland (1-1, 4.96 earned-run average) takes the ball for the Blue Hens while Towson turns to right-hander Brandon Gonnella (1-1, 1.76 ERA).
