University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Open CAA Play with Three-Game Series vs. Hofstra
3/19/2015 12:06:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (7-4) finished in fourth place in the CAA standings last season and were picked to finish sixth in the preseason vote of CAA coaches.
Jim ShermanThe Hens have won six of their last seven games and boost the CAA's top pitching staff with a league-low 4.16 staff ERA. Freshman Ron Marinaccio leads the league with a 0.77 ERA.
UD has a 3-1 record at Bob Hannah Stadium this season and defeated Lehigh 11-10 in its last game Tuesday.
Joe Giacchino is Delaware's leader in batting average (.404), hits (19), and doubles (three) while Diaz Nardo leads the Hens with nine RBI and is tied for the team lead with two home runs.
Hofstra (4-9, 1-2 CAA) opened conference play last weekend and dropped two of three games against William & Mary.
Steven Foster leads the Pride with a .409 batting average and five RBI while pitcher Adam Seibert has a team-best 2.16 ERA.
Reigning CAA Pitcher of the Week Adam Davis will start for the Hens in game one, while sophomore Chad Martin will get the nod in game two. Marinaccio will start Sunday's game vs. Hofstra.
First pitch of game one between the Blue Hens and Pride is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday. Saturday and Sunday's games will both begin at 1 p.m.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
· Delaware leads the all-time series against the Pride 65-25 and won two of three games last season. The first meeting between the two programs took place in 1951.
· Delaware won 16 of the first 18 meetings vs. Hofstra.
· Joe Giacchino comes into this weekend's series riding an eight-game hitting streak.
· Chad Martin and Adam Davis earned their first victories of the season last weekend against Fordham and Sacred Heart.
· Norm Donkin has 10 hits in Delaware's four home games this season.
