Eighth Inning Run Lifts Delaware Past Monmouth, 8-7

Saturday, March 19

Newark, Del.

1:00 PM

University of Delaware

8-8

Monmouth

8-9

Monmouth

Delaware

Photo by: Mark Campbell

3/19/2022 5:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – Joey Loynd drove home Jake Dunion on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth for the game-winning run as the Blue Hens edged Monmouth, 8-7, Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Dunion reached on an error by Hawks third baseman James Harmstead with one out in the frame, while Aidan Kane followed with a single to rightcenter to put runners on the corners. Loynd then hit a chopper to first and Monmouth first baseman Jay Bant fired to second for the force out, but the return throw was too late, allowing Dunion to cross the plate.

Mike Biasiello then allowed a one-out walk in the ninth but retired the final two batters, including a strikeout of Jake Catalano to seal the win and notch his third save of the year and second of the week.

Delaware pounded out 15 hits, including a 4 for 5 performance by Joseph Carpenter. Bryce Greenly added three hits including a homer, while Dunion contributed two hits and three RBI.

Blue Hen starter Joey Silan allowed two runs on five hits in the opening 4.2 innings, while Dom Velazquez improved to 2-1 after giving up five runs on four hits in 3.1 relief frames.

Dunion singled home JJ Freeman in the bottom of the first to give Delaware the early lead, while Loynd led off the second with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Dominic Ragazzo to make it a 2-0 game.

Catalano drilled a home run to put Monmouth on the board in the top of the fourth, but Greenly answered with his own longball in the bottom half to put Delaware back up a pair.

Alex Barker belted a homer for the Hawks in the fifth, before Dunion scored when Nick Vera reached on an error as the Blue Hens increased their lead to 4-2 through five.

UD then tacked on three runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Carpenter followed by Dunion's two-run single.

However Monmouth pulled even in the eighth with five two-out runs, as Dixon Black worked a bases loaded walk before Barker crushed a grand slam to tie the game at 7-7. Delaware then scored the decisive unearned run in the bottom of the eighth to even the weekend series at a game apiece.

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