University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Continue CAA Stretch Drive, Open Weekend Series Friday at Towson
5/12/2016 8:02:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (29-19, 7-11 CAA) at Towson (18-30, 8-10 CAA)
DATES & TIME:
Friday, May 13 • 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 • 11:30 a.m. (note time change due to weather)
Sunday, May 15 • 1 p.m
LOCATION: John B. Schuerholz Park • Towson, Md.
WATCH 🎥
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LIVE STATS 📊
Live stats links for games this weekend will be available HERE
ONLINE 
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STORY LINE
The Blue Hens' stretch drive to a berth in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Tournament continues this weekend as Delaware heads to Towson for its final league road series of the season. The teams will play single games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
Delaware finds itself in eighth place in the CAA standings with a 7-11 mark but the Hens are currently just one game behind Towson, James Madison, and College of Charleston who all share fifth place with 8-10 records. The top six teams will advanced to the CAA Tournament May 25-28 at the College of Charleston.
The Hens, who close out regular season play next weekend at home against league-leading UNCW (13-3), will most likely have to finish the season by winning four of six games to keep pace and qualify for the tournament for the second straight year and for the fifth straight year.
LAST TIME OUT
NEWARK, Del. -- After splitting a doubleheader Saturday with a 7-6 loss and a 9-3 win, Delaware won the rubber match of a key Colonial Athletic Association series against Elon on Sunday with a 16-12 victory in a slugfest at Bob Hannah Stadium.
In a slugfest that saw the teams combine for 26 runs and 28 hits on a blustery day, the biggest contribution might have come from a seldom-used relief pitcher who helped lead Delaware to the win.
The Blue Hens, who won their second straight game, overcame an early 8-1 deficit by scoring six runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to complete the 
comeback and stay in the hunt the upcoming CAA Tournament.
Delaware redshirt freshman lefthander Conner Chasanov, who had pitched just five innings over eight games before Sunday, struck out four of the five Elon batters he faced midway through the game to spark the Hens to the win and clinch the team's first CAA series victory in nearly a month.
Delaware right fielder Kyle Baker, second baseman Jeremy Ake (left), and designated hitter Doug Trimble each knocked in three runs to lead the offensive explosion. Chasanov entered the game with one out and two on in the fifth and UD trailing 10-6, but he struck out the final two batters to end the threat. He then set Elon down in the sixth, once again striking out the final two hitters. The Hens then exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to take their first lead.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Friday: UD - #31 Ron Marinaccio (Jr., RHP, 7-3, 4.90 ERA) vs. Towson - TBA
Saturday: UD - #32 Brandon Walter (Fr., LHP, 5-3, 3.23 ERA) vs. Towson - TBA
Sunday: UD - TBA; Towson - TBA
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Delaware ranks No. 2 in the CAA in batting average (.298), No. 2 in runs scored (7.31), No. 5 in fielding (.961), and No. 6 in team ERA (5.52)
• Nationally, the Hens rank No. 44 in batting average, No. 25 in runs scored, and No. 43 in slugging pct. (.443)
• Delaware has allowed the fewest stolen bases in the CAA (35) while Towson leads the league with 81 thefts
• Three Blue Hens rank in the Top 10 in the CAA in batting average led by No. 6 Kyle Baker (.373), No. 9 Nick Tierno (.347), and No. 10 Jordan Glover (.341)
• Freshman LHP Brandon Walter ranks No. 5 in the CAA in ERA (3.23), No. 4 in innings pitched (76.1), and No. 3 in strikeouts (78) and leads all UD freshmen in each category
• Glover ranks No. 2 in the CAA in both doubles (20) and RBI (49) and is No. 4 in stolen bases (20). He needs 1 RBI to become the first UD player since Brandon Menchaca to reach those milestones in the same season. Menchaca had 64 RBI and 28 SB in 2006.
• Kevin Mohollen ranks No. 4 in the nation with seven triples while Glover ranks No. 9 with 20 doubles
• Kyle Baker leads all CAA freshmen and ranks No. 5 among all NCAA freshman in batting average
• Delaware enters the series with 29 victories this season and needs just one win to reach the 30-win plateau for the first time since going 33-22 in 2013 and for the 27th time in school history (all since 1976)
• Delaware's overall winning percentage of .604 is No. 2 in the CAA - second only to league leading UNCW (.756/34-11)
SERIES INFORMATION
• Delaware leads the series by a 78-41 margin since the first game in 1971
• Delaware took two of three from Towson at Bob Hannah Stadium last May 14-16, winning the opener 8-2, falling 6-1 in the second game, and capturing the rubber game with a 10-4 victory
• Towson won the series last time at home in 2014 as the Tigers won by scores 7-0 and 16-8 after Delaware secured the opener 14-10
• Last team to sweep the series was Towson (2-0) in 2012 at Delaware
• Delaware last swept Towson with a 2-0 series win in 2002 at Delaware
• Towson: Mike Gottlieb (Towson '80) is 697-748-7 in his 28th season at Towson
TOWSON NOTES
• Towson is looking to advance to the CAA Tournament for the third time in four years after missing out in 2015. The Tigers won the CAA title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2013
• The Tigers have not posted a winning record since the 2009 season
• Towson ranks No. 6 in the CAA in team batting average (.270), No. 7 in runs scored (5.4 per game), No. 4 in team ERA (5.20), and No. 6 in fielding (.958).
• Junior Brady Policelli ranks No. 2 in the CAA in on-base pct. (.495), No. 2 in slugging pct. (.602), No. 5 in walks (35), No. 5 in stolen bases (18), No. 6 in batting average (.375) and No. 8 in RBI (41)
• Richie Palacios leads the CAA in stolen bases with 31 (.66 per game) in 38 attempts
• On the mound, Matt Golczewiski is No. 9 in ERA (4.25) and No. 9 in opponent batting average (. 264)
