University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Head South for Big Clash at College of Charleston
4/27/2018 1:48:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (22-17, 7-5 CAA) at College of Charleston (27-15, 9-6 CAA )
📅 Friday, April 27
🕖 6:00 p.m.
📍 Patriot's Point -- Mount Pleasant, S.C.
⚾️ RHP Kyle Hinton (5-3, 2.56 ERA) vs. LHP Evan Sisk (7-3, 2.54 ERA)
📅 Saturday, April 28
🕖 2:00 p.m.
📍 Patriot's Point– Charleston, S.C.
⚾️ RHP Billy Sullivan IV (4-1, 2.51 ERA) vs. RHP Griffin McLarty (5-2, 2.82 ERA)
📅 Sunday, April 29
🕖 1:00 p.m.
📍 Patriot's Point– Charleston, S.C.
⚾️ TBA vs. RHP Jacob Frishmuth (4-2, 3.02 ERA)
THE WEEK THAT HAS BEEN: The Blue Hens are currently 2-0 this week having picked up a pair of 3-1 victories. Delaware began the week with a 3-1 extra-inning victory at Delaware State on Tuesday, before picking up a 3-1 home victory over Penn Wednesday. On Tuesday, senior Nick Spadafino turned in his strongest start of the season, pitching seven innings allowing just one unearned run and five hits. The Dover native struck out five batters. Nick Patten (sixth inning single), Kyle Baker (13th inning triple) and Diaz Nardo (13th inning double) each drove in a run for the Blue Hens who received six shutout innings from Clay Conaway (2.2 IP) and Colman Vila (3.1 IP) who earned his fourth victory of the season. On Wednesday, the Blue Hens again received a strong start as freshman Winston Allen threw five shutout innings to earn his first career victory. Erik Bowren broke a scoreless tie in the third, hitting his first career Blue Hens home run over the 'Blue Monster' in LF. Baker added a crucial insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth inning. Freshman Joey Haass threw a scoreless sixth inning, while Matt Hornich threw two scoreless to earn his first save in over a year.
PITCHING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME: Blue Hens pitchers have been locked-in so far this week, as seven different Hens have combined to allow just two runs (one earned) in 22 innings. Delaware has scattered 16 hits and struck out 18 batters. This season, the Blue Hens are 18-4 when scoring at least three runs and are 18-3 when holding opponents to five runs or fewer.
KEEPING BUSY: Reliever Colman Vila has appeared in 19 of Delaware's 39 games and in four of Delaware's last six games. Vila earned a pair of saves last Wednesday (4/18) against Saint Joseph's and last Friday against James Madison (4/20), before earning a pair of wins Saturday (4/21) against James Madison and Tuesday (4/24) at Delaware State. The lefty has allowed just four earned runs in 29.2 innings this season and has pitched to a record of 4-2. The Sag Harbor, N.Y. native has earned four saves. He enters the weekend having not allowed a run in his last eight and two-thirds innings pitched.
A FAMILIAR FOE WITH A TWIST: Delaware and Charleston are meeting for the third time in a calendar year. The Cougars made the trip to Delaware last May, dropping two-of-three games at Bob Hannah Stadium. Just three days later, the two teams met in the 2017 CAA Tournament, with Delaware winning 9-0. The Cougars are under different management this season, as Chad Holbrook has replaced Matt Heath as head coach last June.
HOW WE STAND: The Blue Hens (7-5) currently sit in third place in the CAA standings tied with both Elon (7-5) and UNCW (7-5) who meet in Wilmington this weekend. The Hens are just a game and a half behind the Cougars (9-6) who sit alone in second place. Northeastern sits in first place at the halfway mark (9-3) after sweeping William & Mary. Hofstra is currently in sixth place (7-8) followed by Towson (5-7), James Madison (5-9) and William & Mary (3-12).
ON THE PROWL: The College of Charleston enters this weekend with the best overall record in the CAA (27-15, .643) despite losing a season-best six games in a row. Last weekend, Charleston made the long trip to Hempstead to face Hofstra. After dropping the first game 7-1, Charleston dropped a pair of one-run contests falling 2-1 Saturday and 5-4 Sunday. Sunday, The College of Charleston took a 4-1 lead into the ninth inning, but closer Nathan Ocker allowed four ninth-inning runs including a three-run walk-off HR. Charleston is 22-7 at Patriot's Point this season and is 8-1 in CAA play at home. The Cougars enter the weekend with an RPI of 65. At the plate, infielders Dupree Hart and Tommy Morgan have been catalysts for CoC as the duo has combined to hit 27 extra-base hits and have stolen 25 bases this season. Hart leads Charleston with an on-base percentage of .412. CAA Preseason Player of the Year Logan McRae has been solid again as he leads Charleston in home runs (6), RBI (31) and doubles (12). On the mound, Charleston has pitched to a staff ERA of just 2.97 which currently ranks eighth nationally. Despite allowing the four runs Sunday, Ocker has allowed just seven earned runs in 33.0 innings pitched. The righty has earned seven of Charleston's 11 team saves.
MEDIA INFORMATION: Contact: Andrew Stern | Anwstern@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-6519 | Cell: 914-589-9666
