University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
La Salle
Patten's Inside-the-Park Homer Highlights Delaware's 4-2 LBC Win Over La Salle
4/5/2016 8:14:00 PM | Baseball
• Boxscore
PHILADELPHIA -- The score was much different from two weeks ago, but the result was just what the University of Delaware baseball squad needed Tuesday afternoon as the Blue Hens defeated La Salle 4-2 in a Liberty Bell Classic consolation game at Hank DeVincent Field.
A two-run inside-the-park home run from freshman Nick Patten highlighted a three-run first inning and that was all the Blue Hens needed to defeat the Explorers for the second time in 15 days and improve to 18-11 overall.
Delaware centerfielder Kevin Mohollen led off the game with a single up the middle, stole second, and moved to third on a groundout by rightfielder Kyle Baker. Catcher Nick Tierno then knocked in the first run of the game on a fielder's choice.
After Jordan Glover went down on the strikes for the second out, the Hens made it 3-0 when Patten circled the bases after a shot to right center. The home run was Patten's team-high seventh of the season and his second in three days.
The Hens then tacked on another run in the second to make it 4-0 as Baker's fielder's choice groundout knocked in second baseman Austin Niggebrugge who had singled, moved up on a single by Mohollen, and moved to third on a balk.
La Salle (8-21), which lost for the seventh time in the last eight games, mounted a comeback in the seventh off UD reliever Conner Chasanov. Mike Manoogian singled with one out, moved to third on a double by Joey Ravert, and scored on a passed ball. Chase Arnold then doubled to leftfield to score Ravert and cut the lead in half.
But FitzPatrick, a member of the UD starting rotation, entered the game and the junior co-captain got the last two outs to escape further danger. He walked the first batter of the eighth before setting down the next three batters and then struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save.
HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Delaware will be off until Friday when the Hens open a three-game Colonial Athletic Association weekend series at Hofstra
• Delaware was in the Liberty Bell Classic consolation bracket after falling to Lehigh 12-7 in the first round Mar. 29. La Salle lost to Rider in the first round
• Baker, the CAA's second leading hitter with a .413 average, extended his on-base streak to 13 games and extended his hitting streak to seven games
• Patten's seven home runs are the most by a UD freshman since Brandon Menchaca hit seven during the 2007 season.
AGATE:
Delaware.......310 000 000 - 4-7-0
La Salle.........000 000 200 - 2 -6-2
Hornich, Belfer (5), Chasanov (7), FitzPatrick (7) and Tierno; Anthony, Pruitt (5), Wanner (8) and Hinchcliffe, Simon (8); E - Manoogian - 2; DP - L - 1, D - 0; LOB - D- 9; L-12; 2B - Ravert (L), Arnold (L); 3B: Glover (D); HR: Patten (D); HBP - Patten (D); Prucnal (L), Hinchcliffe (L); SB: Mohollen (D); Glover (D), Liggett (D); Rivera (L); WP: Belfer (1-0); LP: Anthony (1-3); A - 65.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
