NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware baseball team held a 16-9 lead entering the eighth inning, but were unable to hold off a relentless Marist College team that came through with nine runs over the final two innings to take an 18-16 contest at blustery Bob Hannah Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Delaware (7-2) built its lead by posting at least one run in every inning over the first seven. With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth, centerfielder Brandon Menchaca continued his torrid pace by leading off the fourth inning with a home run for the second consecutive game. The Hens added another run later in the fourth to go up 5-3, setting the stage for their five run fifth inning. The Hens batted around plus one, scoring five runs on four hits, an error and two hit batsmen. The five run inning gave the Hens a 10-3 lead.

Marist (3-4) started its comeback in the top of the sixth off of Blue Hen starter Chad Kerfoot. Catcher Bryan Towler led off the inning with a home run, which was followed by designated hitter Justin Lepore’s double to centerfield. After two outs, the Red Fozes strung together three consecutive singles to bring home two more runs and cut the Delaware lead to 10-5.

With Delaware leading 11-8 heading to the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Hens once again flexed some offensive muscle. The first two batters were retired before Dan Richardson got the rally started with a seemingly harmless single to centerfield. Richardson then stole second and scored on a hit by Adam Tsakonas, and the Hens were off on their second five-run inning of the day, highlighted by a long two-run homer by catcher Bill Merkler, his third consecutive game with a home run.

However, the Red Foxes would not go away. They took advantage of a two-out error by Tsakonas to put up four unearned runs on new Delaware pitcher Billy Harris. The big blow of the inning was a bases-loaded double by Marist shortstop Andy Kiriakedes that brought in three runs.

In the bottom of the eighth, Delaware was put down with out scoring for the first time all day. The Hens entered the top of the ninth with a 16-13 lead, but were unable to hold on. Marist second baseman Kyle Meyer led off the inning with a double, and came home two batters later on a hit by Travis Musolf. After the bases became loaded on a Delaware error, Lepore drive a ball up into the wind in right field that carried beyond the wall as the Blue Hen rightfielder Richardson ran out of room just short of making the grab. The grand slam capped a big day for Lepore, who recorded two doubles, two home runs, scored four times and drove in six.

Josh Rickards worked an inning and a third to pick up his first win of the year for Marist, while Billy Harris took the loss for the Hens after giving up nine runs in two innings, only four of which were earned. For the Hens, Menchaca and Todd Davison (right) continued their hot starts, Menchaca collecting three hits and four RBI and Davison notching four hits and two RBI.

The two teams will continue the series on Saturday at 1 p.m with Bobby Hastry starting for Marist against Todd Ozog for the Blue Hens.

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