University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Host Elon in Key Colonial Athletic Association Weekend Series
5/6/2016 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (27-18, 5-10 CAA) vs. Elon (23-23, 12-8 CAA)
DATES & TIME:
Saturday, May 7 • Game 1 - 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 • Game 2 - Approx. 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 8 • 1 p.m
LOCATION: Bob Hannah Stadium • Newark, Del.
WATCH 🎥
Blue Hens All-Access will provide a live free webstream on Sunday, May 8. Click HERE to watch
LISTEN 📻
University of Delaware student station WVUD will broadcast all three games this weekend. Click HERE to listen to the broadcast.
Live stat links for games this weekend will be available HERE
ONLINE 
Follow Delaware baseball online at facebook.com/DelawareBaseball on Twitter at @DelawareBase and on Instagram at DelawareBase.
STORY LINE
The stretch run to a berth in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Tournament begins this weekend as the Blue Hens play host to Elon in the first-ever visit to Newark for the Phoenix.
After yesterday's series opener was washed out, the teams will play two nine-inning contests today and close out the weekend Sunday with a 1 p.m. matchup for Mother's Day.
Delaware's overall record of 27-18 is the second best mark among all CAA teams, but the Hens find themselves in eighth place in the CAA standings at 5-10.
The Hens have three games next weekend at Towson and close out the regular season May 19-21 with a three-game set here at Bob Hannah Stadium against league-leading UNCW. The top six teams will advance to the CAA Tournament to be held May 25-28 at the College of Charleston.
Elon (23-23), a second-year member of the league, enters the weekend currently in third place in the league standings with a 12-8 mark. The Phoenix, who have won three straight games entering today, will close out conference play this weekend against Delaware and finish off the regular season at home vs. non-league foe Richmond next weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
MERION STATION, Pa. -- The University of Delaware got some revenge on rival Saint Joseph's this past Tuesday afternoon as the Blue Hen baseball squad wrapped up its non-league schedule with an overpowering 11-2 victory over the Hawks at Smithson Field.
The Blue Hens (27-18), winners of six of their last nine games, got even with SJU after falling to the Hawks 9-4 back on Apr. 19. Delaware also snapped a personal four-game losing streak to the Hawks with their first win in the series since 2013.
Delaware junior left-handed starter Kevin Milley (2-0), who entered the game with a 7.27 earned run average on the season, allowed just three hits and struck out six batters in five innings to earn the win in just his third start of the season. SJU was scoreless over the first six innings and Milley and three other relievers held the Hawks to just seven hits on the day.
The Blue Hens, who collected nine hits against nine Saint Joseph's pitchers, jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the first seven innings and added two runs in each of the last three frames for the victory. The Hawks managed only single runs in the seventh and eighth frames.
Designated hitter Nick Tierno led the Blue Hen offense as he went 3 for 4 and knocked in three runs, second baseman Jeremy Ake knocked in two runs, and catcher Brian Mayer went 2 for 4 and knocked in two runs with his third home run of the season in the eighth inning.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Game 1: UD - #31 Ron Marinaccio (Jr., RHP, 7-3, 4.50 ERA) vs. Elon - #6 Michael Elefante (Sr., RHP, 2-1, 3.07 ERA)
Game 2: UD - #32 Brandon Walter (Fr., LHP, 4-3, 3.29 ERA) vs. Elon - #23 Jordan Barrett (LHP, 3-3, 5.40 ERA)
Sunday: UD - TBA; Elon - #7 Mason Daniels (RHP, 4-3, 5.83 ERA)
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Delaware will celebrate Alumni Day today with nearly 30 former UD standouts back on campus. The group will be honored on the field prior to today's opener. Those in attendance will be: David Angebranndt '12; Bob Baker '76; John Craven '66; Corey Crispell '12; Ryan Cuneo '10; Bo Dennis '81; Len Fischer '69; Joe Flickinger '71; Bryan Hagerich '07; Matt Harden '11; Mitch Heckert '06; Bob Hooper '56; Doug Hopper '71; Dan Kozek '06; DJ Long '14; Brandon Menchaca '07; Todd Menchaca '10; Bill Merkler '09; Al Neiger '60; Herb Orensky '79; Ed Pankowski '68; Devon Pearson '12; Darren Pulito '99; Scott Rambo '05; Homer Reihm '60; Randy Simmons '90; Harold Smith '64; Mike Stanek '84; Steve Ulaky '11; Scott Waibel '80; Tyler Warrington '15; and Dave Yates '70.
• Delaware's .600 overall winning percentage this season is second only to league-leading UNCW (.762, 32-10).
• The Hens are 16-9 at home this season
• Hens rank No. 2 in the CAA in batting average (.298), No. 2 in runs (7.1), No. 5 in pitching (5.41 ERA), and No. 5 in fielding (.959).
• Delaware's Jordan Glover is No. 2 in the CAA in RBI (48) and No. 3 in doubles (19) while Kyle Baker is No. 6 in batting (.375), and Nick Tierno is No. 8 in batting (.356)
• LHP Brandon Walter is No. 3 in the CAA in strikeouts (71) and No. 5 in ERA (3.29), and RHP Ron Marinaccio is No. 2 in wins (7-3), No. 6 in strikeouts (60), and No. 10 in ERA (4.50). • Delaware starting pitchers have a 3.22 ERA over the last nine games (53 innings).
• UD's Tierno is batting .429 in CAA games.
SERIES INFORMATION
• Delaware and Elon have met eight times since 1910 with the series tied 4-4.
• Elon won the first meeting 9-2 score in 1910 before the Hens came back with a 9-8 win in 11 innings in 1911.
• Elon won 15-1 in 1933 and 13-5 in 1934 before the Hens came back with a 3-2 win in 1967.
• Delaware took two of three last year at Elon, losing the opener 8-3 before rallying for wins of 10-4 and 11-0 to capture the series.
• This is Elon's first trip to Newark.
• Elon: Mike Kennedy (Elon '91) is 652-486-3 in his 20th season
ELON NOTES
• The Phoenix are coming off a 9-6 win over North Carolina A&T Wednesday in which Elon scored three runs in the eighth to break at 6-6 tie, including a two-run double by Liam O'Regan.
• Elon is 5-8 on the road.
• Elon ranks No. 5 in batting (.277), No. 3 in runs (6.7), No. 8 in pitching (6.22), and No. 8 in fielding (.955).
• Elon's Nick Zammarelli leads the CAA in doubles (21) and is No. 3 in RBI (46) while Kyle Jackson is No. 2 with 10 home runs and P Chris Hall is No. 1 in saves (9).
