University of Delaware Athletics
Hens Look to Bounce Back with Three-Game Home Series vs. Fairfield
3/18/2016 11:37:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (12-5) vs. Fairfield (4-8)
DATES: Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 (Doubleheader)
TIMES: March 18 (3 p.m.) / March 19 (12 noon)
LOCATION: Bob Hannah Stadium, Newark, Del.
WATCH 🎥
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Live stat links for each game will be available via www.bluehens.com
ONLINE 
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STORY LINE
Delaware had a seven-game win streak snapped in Wednesday's 16-5 loss to Bryant, but the Blue Hens will look to bounce back this weekend whey host Fairfield for a three-game set. The teams will meet Friday at 3 p.m. and then follow with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 noon. The teams were originally scheduled to play a single game on Sunday but that game was moved to Saturday due to the threat of a snow storm. Fairfield will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Hens' seven-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Wednesday afternoon as Delaware dropped a 16-5 decision to Bryant at Bob Hannah Stadium. Delaware, off to its best start since 1998 and riding its longest winning streak in four years, tied it up 3-3 in the second inning but the Bulldogs (10-4) scored in every inning except the ninth to run away with the victory. The Blue Hens allowed season-highs of 16 runs and 19 hits and lost for the first time since a 5-3 setback to UMass Lowell back on March 6. Delaware also had a six-game home winning streak snapped.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Delaware: #31 RHP Ron Marinaccio (Soph., 4-0, 1.08 ERA, 25 IP, 27 K) vs. Fairfield: #41 Aaron Howell (Sr., 1-1, 8.40 ERA, 15 IP, 8 K)
Saturday #1: Delaware: #32 LHP Brandon Walter (Fr., 1-2, 4.15 ERA, 21.2 IP, 22 K) vs. Fairfield: #14 RHP Kyle Dube (Jr., 1.37 ERA, 2-0, 19.2 IP, 9 K)
Saturday #2: Delaware: #30 RHP Burk FitzPatrick (Jr., 5.12 ERA, 0-1, 19.1 IP, 12 K) vs. Fairfield: #36 RHP Gavin Wallace (So., 9.00 ERA, 1-2, 16 IP, 12 K)
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Delaware and defending CAA regular season champion College of Charleston share the best non-league record in the CAA so far this season.
• UD's 12-5 start is the best since a 13-4 start (22-4 overall) in 1998 when the team later advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
• Hens' seven-game win streak was its longest since a 13-game streak in 2013.
• Delaware is 8-2 at home this season and are in the midst of 11 home games in 16 days.
• 3B Diaz Nardo returned to action Wednesday after missing six games and went 1 for 4.
• 2B Doug Trimble is working on a seven-game hitting streak.
• 1B Nick Patten has reached base in 13 straight games.
• RHP Ron Marinaccio is looking to become the first starting pitcher to open the season 5-0 since Matt Heppner in 2006.
SERIES INFORMATION
Delaware leads 6-1 with six straight wins. The Hens swept a three-game series by scores of 10-2, 15-4, and 4-0 in 2014 in Bel Air, Md. (Harford County CC). The teams also met in 2012 with Fairfield winning the opener 4-0 followed by UD wins of 4-1 and 4-3 - all here at Bob Hannah Stadium.
• Bill Currier (Vermont '84) is 100-121 in his fifth season at Fairfield and 586-591-2 in his 27th season
FAIRFIELD NOTES
• Fairfield head coach Bill Currier was the 2012 MAAC Coach of the Year and led the Stags to 34 victories in 2014. He previously was head coach at Vermont where he faced Delaware numerous times over 22 seasons.
• Fairfield RF Jake Salpietro (.380, 8 RBI) is the only Stag player hitting over .300.
• Fairfield (4-8), which is playing its 13th straight road game today, looks to snap a three-game losing streak.
• Fairfield has lost three straight and eight of its last nine, including an 11-7 setback at defending Big East champion St. John's Wednesday. The Stags took a 7-5 lead in the sixth but St. John's answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control. Brendan Tracy and Tom Ryan had two each RBI for the Stags.
• Fairfield opened the season with three wins over Delaware State but lost five straight before defeating Charlotte March 11 for their last win.
