Blue Hens Late Charge Comes up Shy in Home Opener

Friday, February 28

Newark, Del.

3 p.m.

University of Delaware

2-5

University of Massachusetts Lowell

4-4

UMass Lowell

Delaware

Photo by: Jeff Fannon

2/28/2020 7:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Hutchins records 100th career hit in a 3-for-4 day

NEWARK, Del. – The Delaware baseball team opened its home schedule Friday afternoon with a comeback charge that ran out of steam, falling to UMass Lowell by an 8-7 final at Bob Hannah Stadium.

"I love the way our guys bounced back after a tough first inning to really take control of that game," said head coach Jim Sherman. "We were right there and our bullpen guys came through. We just have to keep swinging the bats and keep the next play mentality."

After finding themselves trailing 6-0 after an inning and a half, Delaware finally found the scoreboard when junior Jordan Hutchins homered to right center for his third big fly of the year.

Hutchins led the offensive charge with a 3-for-4 day with two RBIs, a double and a run and picked up his 100^th career hit in the process.

Delaware finally put up a crooked number in the fifth inning and held the River Hawks scoreless for the remainder of the evening from that point on. With the help of some UMass Lowell errors, junior John Marti was able to score on a graduate student Kyle Baker groundout before senior Jack Goan drove in freshman Bryce Greenly with a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Joseph Carpenter had a base hit up the middle to score senior Vinny Vaccone to make it an 8-5 game.

It was part of five-unanswered runs by the Blue Hens in the final four innings that concluded with a Baker sacrifice fly in the seventh to score Vaccone and a Hutchins double to bring home Carpenter and make it a one-run game.

The senior duo of CJ Schaible and Chris Ludman were strong out of the bullpen in the latter innings. Schaible worked 3.2 with a pair of hits and five strikeouts, allowing only one run while Ludman matched him with five punchouts in 3.0 innings of work, allowing just one hit and no runs.

Schaible worked a scoreless sixth before Ludman put down the River Hawks 1-2-3 in the seventh and the ninth when he struck out the side.

However, the comeback would falter as UMass Lowell was able to escape with a one-run win in the series opener.

The two teams will take a day to regroup before meeting Sunday for a doubleheader consisting of a seven-inning contest before a nine-inning finale with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.

For the latest on the Delaware baseball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareBASE and Instagram @delawarebase and like "Delaware Baseball" on Facebook.

Notes

This ties the program record for earliest home game played, matching the 2004 season.
Junior Jordan Hutchins recorded his 100^th career hit with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Hutchins is already just one shy of his home run total from last season.
The trio of Hutchins, senior Vinny Vaccone and sophomore Joseph Carpenter made its 61^st consecutive start together. Senior Jack Goan made his 47^th consecutive start.
Carpenter has reached base in eight straight games, including 49 of the last 50, dating back to last season.
Senior Chris Ludman eclipsed the 100 career strikeout mark with five out of the Delaware bullpen.
Vaccone had a career-high three runs scored.
Schaible matched his career-long outing with 3.2 innings of work.