Loynd Hits for Cycle, Baseball Gets One Step Closer to Tournament With Win Over Monmouth

Thursday, May 18

West Long Branch, N.J.

3:00 PM

University of Delaware

28-26, 16-12

Monmouth

15-29, 5-21

Delaware

Monmouth

Photo by: Tyler Gallo

Loynd Hits for Cycle, Baseball Gets One Step Closer to Tournament With Win Over Monmouth

5/18/2023 7:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Using an 11-run seventh inning to take the lead, Delaware baseball (28-26, 16-12 CAA) cut its magic number to one, outslugging Monmouth (15-29, 5-21) 14-8 on Thursday.

Third baseman Joey Loynd started his quest for the cycle with a first-inning triple, but Delaware did not capitalize on it.

Monmouth scored twice in the third and fourth to make it 2-0. Josearmando Diaz responded by dumping a single in front of the left fielder to get a run right back.

The Hawks made it 3-2 before Diaz once again stepped to the plate, depositing his second home run of the year to right field to make it 3-2.

"I was looking for fastballs over the plate and not trying to do too much," Diaz said. "I was struggling a little bit, so I was just trying to get back to it."

The seventh was where the visitors began to take control. 11 runs on six hits began when Loynd hammered a two-run shot to make it 4-3. Diaz, JJ Freeman and Andrew Amato each had RBI singles, and Aidan Kane put a capper on it with a grand slam. Delaware led 13-3 after the frame.

Monmouth scored four times in the seventh to get closer, but an insurance two-run double for Loynd officially completed the cycle for the redshirt junior.

Loynd became the sixth Blue Hen overall and the first to hit for the cycle since Nick Patten did so against Charleston on May 18, 2017, exactly six years ago.

"Definitely a fun milestone to have and look back on when I'm older," Loynd said. "Happy we got the win and happy to have a cool stat to go along with it."

Jack DiLeo and Carter Welch tossed a combined three innings of one-run ball to close out Monmouth.

Loynd, Kane, Diaz and Freeman each had multiple hits, while Diaz, Kane and Loynd each drove in three or more runs. Eli Atiya fanned six batters in four innings of relief.

With the win, Delaware's magic number to clinch a berth in the CAA Tournament is now down to one. A win in any fashion on Friday or a Hofstra loss will seal the team's spot.

Friday will feature a doubleheader beginning at 12:30.