University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Elon
Blue Hens Clinch Series Win with 11-9 Victory over Elon
5/10/2015 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
Box Score
ELON, N.C. – The University of Delaware was able to clinch its first road conference series win in over a year Sunday as the Blue Hens downed Elon 11-9 in a Colonial Athletic Association contest at Latham Field.
Delaware (21-21, 9-12 CAA) wasted no time in building its lead Sunday as the Hens scored two runs in both the first and second innings.
Jim Sherman. “Kevin Milley gave us five innings in a quality start and Colman Vila came out of the bullpen to get a big double play ball. Luke Alicknavitch helped us out late to close out a good game and strong weekend for us.”Lopes put the Hens on the board in the first with an RBI double before Norm Donkin knocked in UD's second run of the game with an RBI groundout.
Elon (24-26, 13-11 CAA) responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first, but Delaware increased its margin in the second with a Giacchino RBI single and Donkin's second RBI of the game.
Both teams exchanged runs in the third before Lopes gave Delaware a 6-2 lead in the fourth on his second RBI double of the game.
The Phoenix scored a run in the fifth before Delaware answered with another run in the top of the sixth. Trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Elon made its most substantial rally of the game.
Elon scored three runs on three hits in the frame to cut the deficit to one run. The scoring was highlighted by RBI doubles from Nick Zammarelli and Andy Moore.
With their lead to trimmed to one run, the Blue Hen bats responded with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth on a two-run Greg Olenski home run. The round-tripper was Olenski's fifth of the season and his third in the last four games.
Giacchino added another run on an RBI single in the ninth to give UD a five-run cushion – a cushion that would prove crucial in the bottom of the ninth.
Elon put a scare in the Blue Hens with three runs in the final inning, but after Vila allowed Casey Jones to club a two-run home run to cut the lead to two runs, Alicknavitch came in and recorded the final out to clinch the victory for UD.
Every Delaware starter recorded at least one hit in the winning effort, while Giacchino and Lopes led the Blue Hens with four hits each. Lopes posted a team-high three RBI and three other Delaware hitters recorded two RBI.
Milley started the game for Delaware and the southpaw allowed two earned runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings to pick up his fourth win of the season.
Delaware will wrap up the regular season with a three-game set against Towson beginning Thursday at 3 p.m. The Hens just have to win one game in order to clinch a spot in the CAA Tournament.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
· With Delaware's win Sunday, the all-time series between the Phoenix and Blue Hens is tied 4-4.
· Olenski's home run tied Diaz Nardo for the team-lead.
· Delaware's 17 hits were the third-highest total from the Hens this season.
· Calvin Scott's seventh inning home run was the first round-tripper of his collegiate career.
· Giacchino, Donkin, and Olenski registered two RBI each.
· Five Elon batters tallied at least two runs, while Quinn Bower knocked in a team-high three runs.
· Milley replaced Chad Martin as the Sunday starter this week, but Martin still saw asction as the righty surrendered two hits and two earned runs in three innings of relief.
· Alicknavitch earned his seventh save of the season.
· Delaware's last CAA road series win came against Hofstra last season.
AGATE
Delaware...............221 101 121 - 11 - 17 - 2
Elon........................101 013 003 - 9 - 12 - 0
D: Milley, Sawyer (6), Martin (6), Vila (9), Alicknavitch (9); E: Stalzer, Byrnes (3), Hall (6), Antonelli (9); DP: E - 3; LOB: D - 9, E - 3; 2B: Lopes 2 (D), Donkin (D), Scott (D), Warrington (D), Zammarelli (E), Moore (E); 3B: Giacchino (D); HR: Jones (E), Scott (D), Olenski (D); WP: Milley (4-3); LP: Stalzer (2-7); Sv: Alicknavitch (7); Attendance: 245.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Joe Wirth | jwirth@udel.edu (email) | 302-831-6519 (office) | 484-883-2804 (cell)
