University of Delaware Athletics
Giacchino?s Two-Run Single Sends Delaware Baseball to Liberty Bell Classic Championship Game with a 5-3 Victory Over Temple
4/2/2013 4:05:00 PM | Baseball
The victory sends Delaware (19-8) to the Liberty Bell Classic Championship Game at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 16, and will face Villanova for the title while Temple falls to 10-14 on the season. Villanova defeated Penn, 5-4, today in the other Liberty Bell Classic Second-Round contest.
“Going to a big-league ballpark is always exciting and will be thrill our team won't forget,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman about his team playing at Citzens Bank Park. “We are going to enjoy this opportunity, but also want to win at the end of the day.”
Delaware returns to the Liberty Bell Classic Championship Game for the first time since 2010, when the Blue Hens defeated Lehigh, 10-7.
The Blue Hens now have a nine-game winning streak after defeating the Owls for the second time this season. UD tallied an 8-4 win over TU in the season opener in Cary, N.C.
The Owls took an early 3-0 lead through the first two innings, but the Blue Hens held Temple scoreless over the final seven frames that gave UD's offense a chance.
“We were sluggish to start the game and went down three, but once Dan Gatto settled down we knew our bats would get hits eventually,” said Sherman. “It wasn't great, but we got some clutch hitting.”
After Jimmy Yezzo's fifth home run of the season tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Blue Hens continued putting pressure on the Owls with a leadoff double by Zach Lopes in the bottom of the seventh inning. Brock Niggebrugge's sacrifice bunt moved Lopes to third for pinch-hitter EJ Stoltzfus, who drew a walk. After Stoltzfus stole second base, Giacchino lined two-out single into right field that plated Lopes and Stoltzfus for the eventual game-winning runs.
Lopes was the only Delaware hitter with multiple hits as the third baseman went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Yezzo's hitting streak extended to 10 games with the solo home run in the sixth inning and now has reached base in 39-straight games. Niggebrugge also kept his hitting streak alive at eight games with a 1-for-2 day.
Chris Branigan (1-0) earned his first win of the season as the left-handed reliever tossed 0.1 hitless innings pitched with one walk.
Eric Buckland (S, 2) locked down the save after he threw 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with one hit and one strikeout.
“It was good to see our relievers workout today after we played some big-league, match-up baseball with our lefties and righties out the of the bullpen,” said Sherman. “Buckland looked really good again today and I'm happy to see him succeed.”
Temple out hit Delaware, 12-8, and had opportunities during the game for additional runs as the Owls left 13 men on the bases compared to the Blue Hens' two.
TU's Matt Elko tallied a three-hit game with one RBI and the trio of Jordan Queja, Henry Knabe and Derek Peterson each added two hits apiece. Knabe collected one RBI while Queja scored one run.
Owl reliever Zach White (0-2) was handed the loss after he was charged with two earned runs on one hit, one walk and one strikeout in 0.2 innings pitched.
Delaware's Dan Gatto surrendered three runs (one earned ) on 10 hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched for the no-decision in his third start of the season.
Matt Hockenberry received the no-decision for the Owls as the right-hander held Delaware to two runs (one earned) on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Blue Hens return to Colonial Athletic Association action on Friday, April 5 at 3:00 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium as Delaware hosts George Mason in a three-game weekend series.
“We want to end this extended stretch at home by winning the series against the Patriots,” said Sherman. “Mason always plays tough in the conference, but we want to end this homestand on an up note.”
Delaware will hand the ball to right-handed starter Chad Kuhl (5-1, 2.79 earned-run average) in Friday's opener against George Mason.
