University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
William & Mary
Delaware Salvages Doubleheader Split vs. William & Mary with 4-2 Win in Nightcap
4/30/2016 4:07:00 PM | Baseball
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The University of Delaware got a big effort from a trio of pitchers and catcher Nick Tierno knocked in two runs, including what proved to be the game-winner, as the Blue Hens defeated host William & Mary 4-2 Saturday afternoon to salvage a split in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader at Plumeri Park.
The Hens (26-18, 5-10 CAA), who lost Friday's series opener 10-0 and suffered a 7-4 setback in 
Saturday's opener, earned the much-needed win and stayed alive in the race for one of six spots in the CAA Tournament in late May.
William & Mary moved its record to 22-22 (11-6 CAA) and fell short of its second straight CAA series sweep after taking three from Northeastern last week.
Delaware right-hander Nick Spadafino (at right/file photo) delivered another outstanding effort on the mound in just his second career start and got solid relief support from Colman Vila and Burk FitzPatrick to key the Blue Hen victory.
After beginning his career with 35 straight relief appearances, Spadafino got his first career start on Apr. 20 against Wilmington and fired a two-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory. The 6-1, 210 lb. right-hander got the starting nod Saturday afternoon and stepped up once again.
Spadafino went five solid innings to get the win and improved to 5-2. He scattered eight hits and allowed just one run before giving way to Vila, who allowed just one unearned run in 3.1 innings of work.
threw one pitch and got the game-ending double play for the save. We are alive for a playoff spot and we feel good about next weekend (vs. Elon).”Both teams scored in the first inning as UD's Kyle Baker launched his first career home run to leftfield for a 1-0 lead before the Tribe's Cullen Large tied it with an RBI single.
Delaware then took the lead for good with a two-run sixth. James Meeker led off and reached base on an error. Kevin Mohollen followed with an RBI triple and two batters later Tierno knocked him in with a double.
The Tribe got a run back in the seventh to pull to within 3-2 on a Hunter Smith RBI single, but Delaware answered with an insurance run in the eighth when Tierno's groundout to second base brought home Meeker.
Vila struck out Charley Gould to open the ninth but Ryder Miconi followed with a single and Josh Smith walked. FitzPatrick, who began the season as the Hens' No. 3 starter, then entered the game and forced Ameer into the game-ending double play with just one pitch.
Delaware lost a tough one in the opener as the Hens scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead, but William & Mary answered with four of their own in the bottom of the inning to capture a 7-4 victory.
The Hens, who were held to just one hit in a 10-0 loss to the Tribe Friday night, got their offense going and overcame a 3-2 deficit when Jordan Glover (above left/file photo) delivered an RBI single and Diaz Nardo added a run-scoring double for a 4-3 advantage in the top of the eighth inning.
Delaware freshman Kyle Hinton (2-3) took over for starter Brandon Walter in the eighth but struggled as William & Mary scored four runs to take the lead and control. A two-run home run by William & Mary second baseman Cullen Large put the Tribe ahead for good at 5-4.
Glover and Nardo each knocked in two runs for the Hens while Glover and Mohollen each collected two hits as part of an eight-hit attack. Walter went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits and struck out eight.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Delaware will travel to Saint Joseph's for a non-league game Tuesday before returning home to host Elon for a three-game CAA series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
• Despite going just 1 for 10 in the series, Tierno had two RBI and is still batting 24 for 56 (.429) in CAA play
• Glover increased his team leads in RBI (47) and stolen bases (17) during the doubleheader
• William & Mary now leads the all-time series by a slim 28-26 margin since 1908
AGATE:
Game 1
Delaware........100 100 020 - 4-8-0
Wm. & Mary...000 201 04x - 7-8-0
Walter, Hinton (8) and Tierno; Sheehan, Aker (8), Gaouette (9) and Gould, Smith (8); DP - WM -2; LOB - Delaware 7; WM 6; 2B - Mohollen (D); Nardo (D); Miconi (WM); HR - Large (WM); Smith (WM); HBP - Mohollen (D), Glover (D), Smith (WM), Ameer (WM); SH - Tierno (D); SF - Nardo (D); SB - Mohollen (D); Glover (D); CS - Pearson (WM); WP - Aker (3-1); LP - Hinton (2-3); Save - Gaouette (9)
Game 2
Delaware........100 002 010 - 4-8-2
Wm. & Mary...100 000 100 - 2-10-1
Spadafino, Vila (6), FitzPatrick (9) and Tierno; Powers, Fletcher (8) and H. Smith; E - Nardo (D); Spadafino (D); Gould (WM); DP - Delaware 1; WM 2. LOB - Delaware 6; WM 14. 2B - Tierno (D); Patten (D); Hall (WM); 3B - Mohollen (D); HR - Baker (D); HBP - Patten (D), Ameer - 2 (WM); SH - Mohollen (D); Wrighte (WM); WP - Spadafino (5-2); LP - Powers (6-3); Save - FitzPatrick (3); Attendance: 341.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
