University of Delaware Athletics
Seven Blue Hens Receive All-CAA Honors, Donkin and Lopes Named Second Team All-Conference
5/19/2015 6:08:00 PM | Baseball
CAA Release
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – After a regular season that resulted in a No. 5 seed in this week's CAA Tournament, seven University of Delaware baseball players received All-Colonial Athletic Association honors Tuesday.
Zach Lopes and Norm Donkin were named second team All-CAA, while Joe Giacchino and Adam Davis were named to the third team.
Diaz Nardo and Ron Marinaccio were selected to the All-Rookie team and criminal justice major Greg Olenski received CAA All-Academic accolades.
Jim Sherman. “I was little disappointed that Olenski did not make first, second, or third team, but he got all-academic, which is a great accomplishment. The guys who made the team should be proud because these honors are well-deserved.”
Lopes (right) and Donkin were among the catalysts of the 2015 Delaware offense. Lopes posted a .362 batting average and led the Blue Hens with 68 hits on the season.
The senior captain also had 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 24 RBI.
Donkin posted a team-high four triples and 13 stolen bases. The senior right fielder accrued a .333 batting average on the season and was third on the team with 26 RBI and 11 doubles.
Giacchino was the only Blue Hen to play in and start all 45 games this season. The senior captain was the leadoff hitter for UD for most of the season and posted a .328 batting average. Giacchino also registered eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 33 RBI.
After missing nearly all of the 2014 season because of an arm injury, Davis returned to the Blue Hens this season and became the ace of the UD pitching staff. Davis had team-highs in wins 
(five) and strikeouts (60).
The third captain of the 2015 squad had a 4.27 ERA and was the winning pitcher as UD clinched a berth in the CAA Tournament with an 8-2 win over Towson last Friday.
Nardo and Marinaccio (left) made immediate impacts for Delaware in their first season of action with the Hens.
Marinaccio emerged as the No. 2 starter for UD as the righty posted four wins with a 3.94 ERA. Marinnacio's ERA was the sixth lowest among CAA starting pitchers.
Nardo provided a power bat in the UD lineup throughout the 2015 season. The redshirt freshman posted a team-high 34 RBI and was tied for the team lead with five home runs on the season. Nardo also tallied six doubles, two triples, and a .287 batting average.
Second baseman Blake Butler of College of Charleston was named CAA Player of the Year and CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Fellow Cougar Taylor Clarke was selected CAA Pitcher of the Year, while James Madison's Kyle McPherson was tabbed CAA Rookie of the Year.
After leading Charleston to the No. 1 seed and a national ranking, Charleston head coach Monte Lee received CAA Coach of the Year honors.
The Hens will begin the CAA Tournament Wednesday as UD takes on Elon at 12 p.m. at The Ballpark at Patriots Point.
