University of Delaware Athletics
Long?s Homer Caps Six-Run Ninth-Inning Rally as Delaware Collects 11-8 Comeback Victory vs. Mason
4/5/2013 4:10:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (20-8, 7-3 CAA) extended its winning streak to 10 games while George Mason (12-18, 4-9 CAA) lost its sixth game in a row. The Blue Hens have now won seven straight games over the Patriots since 2011.
“It was a great ninth inning for the Hens,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “Our team showed a lot of resiliency in the final frame with the belief that anyone can contribute in the clutch.”
Trailing 8-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Delaware scored two runs on four-straight singles by Ty Warrington, Brock Niggebrugge, Joe Giacchino and Cameron Travalini.
After a strikeout by Jimmy Yezzo, Nick Ferdinand hit an RBI single into left field drive in Giacchino for the game-tying run. With one out and runners on first and second base, Long smashed his fifth home run of the season, a game-winning, three-run shot over the right-center field wall that capped a six-run rally for the Hens and gave Delaware an 11-8 win.
“The key was Warrington beginning the inning with a base hit,” said Sherman about the six-run rally in the ninth inning. “Followed by additional base knocks by Niggebrugge and Giacchino, the belief of winning the game began to grow within us because we had the meat of order coming up to bat.”
The Blue Hens collected 13 hits in the win and have tallied 10-plus base knocks in five of the last six games. Ferdinand also hit his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning, a two run shot that began UD's scoring on the day.
Niggebrugge led the Hens with three hits and extended his hitting streak to nine games while Yezzo's on-base streak reached 40 games and his hitting streak increased to 11 games with a 2-for-5 performance.
The trio of Delaware relievers, Ken Fetchko, Eric Sawyer, and Jake Clark (1-0), held George Mason to one earned run on three hits, two walks and four strikeouts over the final three innings.
Clark earned his first win as Blue Hen after he retired the final batter in the top of the ninth inning.
“Fetchko threw well and really settled things down and set the tone that gave us a chance,” said Sherman. “Sawyer and Clark had match-ups that they won and kept us close in the ninth inning.”
The Patriots offense tallied 13 hits in the loss as Derek Evans and Tommy Vitaletti led the team with three base hits apiece. Blaise Fernandez also went 2-for-3 with one double, one home run, one RBI and three runs scored.
George Mason's Jared Gaynor (2-4) suffered the loss as the left-hander was charged with 11 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits, one walk and seven strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.
Delaware's Chad Kuhl received a no-decision after he yielded seven earned runs on 10 hits, five walks and four strikeouts in six innings on the mound.
The Blue Hens and Patriots continue their CAA weekend series with game two on Saturday, April 6, at 1:00 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium.
“You need to carry this high for the rest of the evening and enjoy the victory,” said Sherman. “But tomorrow morning is a new day and we need to let it go and refocus for game two of the series.”
Delaware hands the ball to right-hander Adam Davis (3-3, 4.69 ERA) while George Mason turns to right-hander Anthony Montefusco (2-3, 5.23 ERA).
