University of Delaware Athletics
Yezzo?s Homers and Soren?s Arm Leads Delaware Baseball to a CAA Series Sweep of George Mason Behind a 16-1 Victory
4/7/2013 5:21:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – Jimmy Yezzo slugged two home runs and starter Matt Soren threw seven shutout innings as the University of Delaware baseball team defeated George Mason, 16-1, and completed a three-game sweep in the Colonial Athletic Association weekend-series finale Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Delaware (22-8, 9-3 CAA) owns a 12-game winning streak and have swept back-to-back CAA weekend series while George Mason falls to 12-20 overall and 4-11 in the conference. The Hens have swept the last three series against the Patriots and own a nine-game winning streak over GMU.
“We wanted to sweep in the worst way,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “Today was the best game we have played this season in all facets; hitting, hitting with power, pitching and fielding.”
The Blue Hens took an early 5-0 lead through the first two innings behind five hits. In the fifth inning, UD sent 12 men to the plate and collected six runs on seven hits and two walks. Over the final three trips to the plate, Delaware scored a total of five runs on six hits in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning.
Delaware's offense exploded for 19 hits as six different UD hitters produced multi-hit games. Cameron Travalini and Ty Warrington led the team with three base knocks apiece. Brock Niggebrugge extended his hitting streak to 11 games with two hits and tied a season-high with four RBI.
UD flexed its muscle as the Hens belted three home runs in the win. Yezzo's two home runs, a two-run shot to center field in the fifth inning and a solo blast over the scoreboard in right field in the seventh inning, went with three RBI and three runs scored. Pinch-hitter Ryan Hartley hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field wall, in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“During this winning streak some players haven't been able to see the field as much as they would like,” said Sherman. “Hartley has worked his butt off and it was good to see him capitalize with that home run when given the opportunity.”
Soren (2-1) earned his second-straight victory for the Hens as the right-hander held the Patriots to four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings pitched.
“He is probably one of the better Sunday starters in the CAA and we are fortunate that he's a Blue Hen,” said Sherman. “He's going well and rolling on all cylinders with his fastball and curve.”
Relievers Taylor Mahoney and Jake Clark sealed the victory for the Hens after the duo combined over the final two innings, one earned run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
The Patriots were held to five hits in the game as Patrick Espositio was the only GMU player with two hits in the game. George Mason's only offense came in the top of the eighth inning behind a Tucker Tobin solo home run over the left field fence.
John Williams (2-2) suffered the loss after the right-hander was charged with eight earned runs on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings on the mound.
The Hens look for their 13th-straight win on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. when Delaware travels Baltimore, Md. to play UMBC.
“It was a great weekend for us, but we need to be able to refocus for Tuesday night,” said Sherman. “UMBC is an important game for us to keep this momentum rolling into conference play next weekend.”
Right-hander Dan Gatto (1-1, 4.39 earned-run average) will make his fourth start of the season against the Retrievers.
Delaware (22-8, 9-3 CAA) owns a 12-game winning streak and have swept back-to-back CAA weekend series while George Mason falls to 12-20 overall and 4-11 in the conference. The Hens have swept the last three series against the Patriots and own a nine-game winning streak over GMU.
“We wanted to sweep in the worst way,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “Today was the best game we have played this season in all facets; hitting, hitting with power, pitching and fielding.”
The Blue Hens took an early 5-0 lead through the first two innings behind five hits. In the fifth inning, UD sent 12 men to the plate and collected six runs on seven hits and two walks. Over the final three trips to the plate, Delaware scored a total of five runs on six hits in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning.
Delaware's offense exploded for 19 hits as six different UD hitters produced multi-hit games. Cameron Travalini and Ty Warrington led the team with three base knocks apiece. Brock Niggebrugge extended his hitting streak to 11 games with two hits and tied a season-high with four RBI.
UD flexed its muscle as the Hens belted three home runs in the win. Yezzo's two home runs, a two-run shot to center field in the fifth inning and a solo blast over the scoreboard in right field in the seventh inning, went with three RBI and three runs scored. Pinch-hitter Ryan Hartley hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field wall, in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“During this winning streak some players haven't been able to see the field as much as they would like,” said Sherman. “Hartley has worked his butt off and it was good to see him capitalize with that home run when given the opportunity.”
Soren (2-1) earned his second-straight victory for the Hens as the right-hander held the Patriots to four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings pitched.
“He is probably one of the better Sunday starters in the CAA and we are fortunate that he's a Blue Hen,” said Sherman. “He's going well and rolling on all cylinders with his fastball and curve.”
Relievers Taylor Mahoney and Jake Clark sealed the victory for the Hens after the duo combined over the final two innings, one earned run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
The Patriots were held to five hits in the game as Patrick Espositio was the only GMU player with two hits in the game. George Mason's only offense came in the top of the eighth inning behind a Tucker Tobin solo home run over the left field fence.
John Williams (2-2) suffered the loss after the right-hander was charged with eight earned runs on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings on the mound.
The Hens look for their 13th-straight win on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. when Delaware travels Baltimore, Md. to play UMBC.
“It was a great weekend for us, but we need to be able to refocus for Tuesday night,” said Sherman. “UMBC is an important game for us to keep this momentum rolling into conference play next weekend.”
Right-hander Dan Gatto (1-1, 4.39 earned-run average) will make his fourth start of the season against the Retrievers.
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