Blue Hens Win 1-0 Thriller Under the Lights

Friday, April 5

7 p.m.

University of Delaware

9-19, 0

William & Mary

20-8, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
William & Mary	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Delaware	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	1	7	2

Photo by: Jeff Fannon

4/5/2019 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware baseball team has played at the same location for the past 53 years.

For the first time ever, the Blue Hens played under the lights at Bob Hannah Stadium on Friday as the complex's new additions were unveiled. What a night it was as Delaware won a thrilling 1-0 victory over William & Mary in the first home conference series of the season.

"As a coach, these are the nights that it's really all about. I'm so proud of our guys for the energy they brought tonight and made a special night even more special with the way they played," head coach Jim Sherman said. "It was a huge performance to open what is a big CAA series for us."

It started on the mound for the Blue Hens who got outstanding performances from freshman Joey Silan and junior Derek Wakeley, who combined to allow just four hits, no runs and nine strikeouts on the evening. Silan has now allowed just one earned run in his past 11.2 innings of work.

"Can't say enough about the way Silan and Wake threw the ball tonight. I've said before about how a great pitching performance can really ignite you and that's what happened tonight," Sherman said. "Those guys battled and battled all night and really were great for us."

Offensively, senior Kevin Mohollen continued his surge, going 2-for-3 with the game's only RBI, while freshman Austin Colmery also had a two-hit night for the Blue Hens. Freshman Joseph Carpenter extending his streak to 20 consecutive games reaching base safely with an infield single.

"We knew what a special night this was for our program. We've had some many great players come before us and really lay the foundation and for us to have the opportunity to be the first ones to play under the lights, we didn't want to take it granted," Mohollen said.

Both offenses had their chances early with the two teams combining to strand 10 runners in the first two innings of the contest. The hurlers for both sides settled into a groove and it stayed a 0-0 game into the sixth inning.

William & Mary would be the first to rally, getting the first two runners aboard to push Silan out of the game and bring in Wakeley out of Delaware's bullpen. A caught stealing, followed by two strikeouts would stifle the Tribe offensive threat and keep it 0-0.

It wouldn't stay that way for long as Jack Goan singled to lead off the home half of the sixth. Two batters later, Zach Lesher ripped a single through the left side and Colmery drew a walk to load the bases with one out for Mohollen. The senior laced the third pitch he saw into right field to plate the game's only run and give the Blue Hens a 1-0 lead.

Wakeley would take over from there, allowing no hits and just two more baserunners for the final three frames en route to a seven-strikeout performance and his second victory of the year.

Up Next

Delaware and William & Mary will play the second game of the three-game series at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. Legendary head coach Bob Hannah will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.