University of Delaware Athletics
Missed Opportunities Hamper Delaware Baseball?s Offense in 4-2 Loss to Rutgers in Non-Conference Action
4/23/2013 6:38:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (26-13) dropped its third-straight game while Rutgers (19-19) saw its three-game losing streak end.
“If I was told we were going to allow four runs today by our pitchers, I would have thought we won because our offense has the ability to score more,“ said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “We are hitting a little bit of a struggle time. We played a little blasé left too many runners on base.”
UD registered nine hits in the loss as Joe Giacchino was the only Delaware batter with multiple hits as he banged out two hits. Jimmy Yezzo extended his hitting streak to six games with a RBI double.
Delaware second baseman DJ Long tied Brian August for most doubles in Delaware baseball history with his 71st in the bottom of the fourth inning that drove in Nick Ferdinand and put the Blue Hens on the board.
“That's a feather in DJ's cap to be mentioned in the same breath as one of the greatest hitters in Delaware history,” Sherman said about Long matching August's doubles record. “It's a great feat and we are proud of his accomplishment.”
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Yezzo plated in the Hens' final run with a RBI single to right field that scored Andrew Burgess.
Blue Hen starter Dan Gatto (3-2) suffered the loss after the right-hander surrendered four runs (three earned) on eight hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. Jake Clark gave Delaware a chance after the righty tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief and kept Rutgers in check with one hit and three strikeouts.
Rutgers tied Delaware with nine hits in the game. Nick Favatella and Charlie Law led the Scarlet Knights with two hits apiece.
RU took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a pair of RBI doubles by Vinny Zarrillo and Law. Ross Costello smashed a leadoff solo home run in the top of the second inning that gave RU a three-run lead. A RBI double by Jeff Melillo in the top of the seventh inning completed the Scarlet Knights' scoring on the day.
Jon Young (2-0) earned the win in his first career start for Rutgers as the right-hander tossed 6.2 innings on the mound and limited the Blue Hens to two earned runs on eight hits, on walk and four strikeouts.
The Blue Hens continue mid-week, non-conference action on Wednesday, April 24, when Delaware travels to Saint Joseph's University. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at SJU's John W. Smithson Field.
“The young guys need to put it together and need to dig deep, find some energy , and step it up with the bats,” said Sherman. “(Taylor) Mahoney gets to start against his former school and if we get the pitching we did today, I like our chances.”
Making his first start for the Blue Hens, left-hander Taylor Mahoney (0-0) will square off against Hawks lefty Shane Carey (0-1).
