University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
UNCW
UNCW?s Ninth Inning Rally Spoils Strong Outing from Davis, Delaware Falls 4-3
5/1/2015 10:22:00 PM | Baseball
Box Score
WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW's Andy Austin provided a game-winning pinch-hit single in the ninth inning to complete the Seahawk comeback Friday as UNCW defeated the University of Delaware 4-3 in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup.
Delaware (18-18, 7-9 CAA) was in full control for most of the contest and the Blue Hens led UNCW 3-1 in the eighth inning with starter Adam Davis cruising on the mound.
However, Davis could not keep the Seahawk bats silent for the whole game as UNCW mounted a comeback. The Seahawks (31-12, 13-3 CAA) scored one run in the eighth and clinched the victory with a two-run ninth inning.
Jim ShermanDavis provided one of his best starts of the season for UD as the senior right-hander allowed just two runs on five hits in 7.2 innings. Davis surrendered one run on two hits in the first inning before shutting down the UNCW lineup for the bulk of the contest.
Delaware continued its trend of fast starts in conference play as the Hens again got on the scoreboard in the first inning. The early lead was established on an RBI single from Greg Olenski.
After UNCW answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the first, Delaware retook the lead with two runs in the third inning.
Zach Lopes scored the first run of the frame on a Seahawk fielding error to give UD a 2-1 lead. Tyler Powell then hit a sacrifice fly to score Norm Donkin from third and give Delaware a 3-1 advantage.
Neither squad was able to score until UNCW cut the UD lead to one run in the eighth inning on a Casey Golden RBI double.
Delaware threatened to add an insurance run in the top of the ninth, but Powell was stranded on third base when Ty Warrington struck out to end the inning.
Taylor Mahoney relieved Davis in the eighth and was able to get out of the inning with UD still in the lead. Mahoney recorded two outs in the ninth and with a runner on second base, was just one strike away from sealing the UD win. However, Mahoney's next pitch caught too much of the plate and UNCW's Zach Canada roped a triple to tie the game.
Luke Alicknavitch then relieved Mahoney and gave up Austin's game winning single.
Donkin led Delaware with three hits and two runs scored, while Powell's ninth inning double was Delaware's lone extra-base hit.
The Blue Hens and Seahawks will return to the diamond tomorrow at 2 p.m. for game two of the weekend series.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
· Brock Niggebrugge went 0-for-3 and had his 13-game hitting streak snapped.
· Ron Marinaccio will start tomorrow for the Hens.
· UNCW committed three errors.
· Delaware has won just one CAA road game this season.
· UNCW starter Nick Monroe allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 8.1 innings of work.
· The start of Friday's game was delayed one hour because of inclement weather.
· Mahoney suffered his second loss of the season, while UNCW's Jordan Ramsey picked up his fifth win
AGATE
Delaware..................102 000 000 - 3 - 7 - 5
UNCW.......................100 000 012 - 4 - 8 - 3
D: Davis, Mahoney (8), Alicknavitch (9); UNCW: Monroe, Barnes (9), Ramsey (9); DP: D - 1, UNCW - 1; LOB: D - 5, UNCW - 5; 2B: Powell (D), Golden (UNCW); 3B: Canada (UNCW); WP: Ramsey (5-1); LP: Mahoney (1-2); Attendance: 853.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Joe Wirth | jwirth@udel.edu (email) | 302-831-6519 (office) | 484-883-2804 (cell)
