Vera’s Eighth Inning Homer Lifts Blue Hens Past UNCW, 3-2

Saturday, April 23

Newark, Del.

3:00 PM

University of Delaware

22-15, 6-5

UNCW

22-15, 7-4

UNCW

Delaware

Photo by: Jeff Fannon

Vera’s Eighth Inning Homer Lifts Blue Hens Past UNCW, 3-2

4/23/2022 6:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – Nick Vera blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth before Zach Klapak slammed the door in the ninth as Delaware picked up a thrilling 3-2 victory over UNCW Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

UNCW took the early lead when Taber Mongero belted a home run in the top of the first, and the Seahawks maintained their 1-0 advantage into the seventh inning.

UNCW plated another run on a passed ball, and looked to extend the margin as the Seahawks still had the bases loaded with nobody out. However Klapak then replaced starter Joey Silan and got Matt Suggs to hit a flyball to center, where Jordan Hutchins made the catch and gunned down Chris Thorburn at the plate for a double play. Klapak then retired Jac Croom on a foul out to third to escape the jam.

JJ Freeman crushed a homer to right, his second in as many days and his team-leading eighth of the year, in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 2-1 game.

Jake Dunion then led off the eighth with a walk, but after he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, he was thrown out at the plate on a single to left by Joey Loynd. However Vera followed with a towering shot over the leftfield fence, his sixth of the season, to put the Blue Hens in front.

Klapak then set down the Seahawks in order in the ninth to earn his team-high fifth win of the year. Klapak retired all eight batters he faced in three perfect innings, after Silan gave up two runs on seven hits in six-plus frames.

Jim Sherman
"This was another good conference game that was almost a playoff atmosphere. UNCW and Delaware always get after it. It was the Silan and Klapak story today, both of those guys pitched a heck of a ballgame. Obviously us getting out of the bases loaded jam was a big catalyst, and Freeman and Vera hitting the homers were huge. And then Klapak shut them down 1-2-3 in the ninth. I'm really happy for the fans who got to watch some really good CAA baseball."

Gallery: (4-23-2022) Baseball vs. UNCW

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