University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
La Salle
Delaware?s Red-Hot Bats Strike Again as Blue Hens Overpower La Salle 22-1
3/22/2016 7:20:00 PM | Baseball
• Boxscore
Photos by Jeff Fannon
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware put this one away early Tuesday afternoon as the red-hot Blue Hen bats struck for 22 runs and 24 hits and UD held La Salle scoreless for the first six innings on the way to a 22-1 non-league baseball victory at Bob Hannah Stadium.
The Blue Hens (16-5), who won their fourth straight game and 11th in the last 12 outings, jumped out to a commanding 16-0 lead after six innings as they opened with six runs in the first inning, put up 
four in the third, and scored twice in the second, fourth, and sixth inning.
Not to be outdone was the outstanding pitching by the Blue Hens, who limited the light-hitting
Explorers to just one run on four hits for the day. Delaware sophomore starter Zach Flowers, (above left) a first-year transfer from Tulane, picked up his first collegiate win as he went five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. Delaware relievers Matt Hornich, Cole Benjamin, Conner Chasanov, and Nick Spadafino each went one inning to finish it up, allowing just one run and one hit over the final four frames. Delaware put the game away early with the six-run first as five of the first six batters got on base, including Patten's first homer of the game, which brought home two runs.
Other big hits were Jordan Glover's two-run double in the third, Nardo's two-run bomb in the sixth, and the homers from Scott (#6 at right) and Patten in the seventh.
The Blue Hens will have their hands full this weekend as they travel to defending CAA regular season champion College of Charleston for a three-game set beginning Friday evening.
The Cougars (13-7), who have received national Top 25 votes this season, have wins over the likes of Nebraska, Florida State, and Coastal Carolina this season.
“Everyone seems to be seeing the ball well and driving it to all fields,” said Patten. “I feel good. Its one of those streaks you go through in baseball when you are hot. We have a lot of momentum and we are ready to go (down to Charleston).”
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Delaware has now scored in double figures seven times this season and the Hens entered the game ranked in the NCAA Division I Top 50 in batting average (.303), runs scored (7.4 per game), home runs (0.95), and slugging percentage (.456)
• Patten has now reached base in 17 straight games and is 11 for 23 (.478) with three home runs and 10 RBI over the last six games
• 2B Nick Tierno, who began his collegiate career at La Salle, was 3 for 5 and scored five runs in seven at bats. The five runs were the most scored by a Delaware player since Josh Dean scored six times vs. Hofstra on May 8, 2010
• RF Kyle Baker, who entered the game batting .377 and ranking 14th among all freshmen in NCAA I, went 3 for 3 and upped his average to .411
• Delaware is 12-2 at home this season played its 13th home game in the last 18 days
AGATE:
La Salle.......000 000 100 - 1 - 4 - 3
Delaware.....624 202 510 - 22 - 24 - 0
Paprocki, Wanner (3), Prucnal (4), Flax (6), Castellano (7), Santore (8) and Simon; Flowers, Hornich (6), Benjamin (7), Chasanov (8), Spadafino (9) and Rapp; E - Melone (L), C. McGowan (L), Rivera (L); DP - D-3, L - 0; LOB - L - 7, D - 13; 2B - Ravert (L), Tierno (D), Glover-2 (D), Ake (D), Baker (D); HR: Scott (D), Patten-2 (D), Nardo (D); CS: Melone (L); WP: Flowers (1-0); LP: Paprocki (0-1); A- 140.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
