University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Face Lehigh, La Salle in Pair of Midweek Matchups
3/30/2015 2:39:00 PM | Baseball
Live Stats Lehigh Game/Live Stats La Salle Game
NEWARK, Del. – After being swept by Northeastern this past weekend, the University of Delaware baseball team will look to get back on the winning track as the Blue Hens host Lehigh in the consolation round of the Liberty Bell Classic Tuesday at Bob Hannah Stadium and then travel to La Salle Wednesday.
Delaware (9-9, 2-4 CAA) lost in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic last week to La Salle, while the Mountain Hawks (5-16, 1-3 Patriot) fell to Rider.
Jim ShermanBoth midweek games will be rematches for Delaware. The Hens defeated Lehigh 11-10 on Mar. 17, but fell to La Salle 9-1 on Mar. 24.
Mike Garzillo and Justin Pacchioli have a team-best .405 batting average for Lehigh, while Justin Korenblatt leads the Explorers (13-13, 3-3 A-10) with a .389 average.
Lehigh comes into Tuesday's matchup having lost 14 of its last 16 games. The Mountain Hawks have a team ERA of 4.79 and a .246 team batting average. Lehigh has allowed their opponents to score six or more runs on nine occasions this season.
La Salle has won seven of its last 10 games and has scored at least five runs in each of those seven wins. The Explorers have won two of the last three matchups against the Hens and have scored 40 runs in those three games.
Delaware is fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association with a .286 team batting average, while the Blue Hen pitching staff has a 4.38 ERA, which is the second lowest in the CAA.
Joe Giacchino leads the Hens in batting average (.338, min. 16 at-bats) and hits (26), and is tied for the team-lead in doubles (3), home runs (3), and runs scored (13).
A pair of Delaware freshman will be making their first career starts this week. Colman Vila will make take the mound Tuesday vs. Lehigh, while Scott Zimmer will get the nod Wednesday at La Salle. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 3 p.m.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
· Diaz Nardo comes into this week's games riding a 10-game hitting streak.
· Joe Giacchino and Tyler Powell have started all 18 games this season.
· Norm Donkin leads UD and is second in the CAA with three triples.
· Delaware leads the all-time series vs. La Salle 39-12, while the Blue Hens hold a 60-18 advantage over Lehigh.
· The Hens have won nine straight over the Mountain Hawks.
· Delaware committed a season-high three errors in games one and three of the Northeastern series.
· UD resumes its CAA schedule this weekend as the Blue Hens travel to James Madison for a three-game series.
