NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware baseball team scored eight runs in a decisive sixth inning to earn its first win over a ranked opponent in three years by downing #20 Old Dominion, 12-2, on Friday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Mike McGuire and Kevin Brown combined to allow only four hits to the conference leading Monarchs (34-7, 16-3 CAA), while Adam Tsakonas and Ryan Engelhardt each scored three runs. Engelhardt (right), the Hens catcher, was the offensive catalyst for the Hens, reaching base in all four plate appearances as well as gunning down two of three would be base stealers against him.

Delaware (23-13, 8-8 CAA) blew open a tight game in the bottom of the sixth. Leading 2-1, the Hens had runners on first and third with two outs when Engelhardt stepped in against ODU starter Kevin Gunter. Gunter got two quick strikes, but Engelhardt proceeded to spoil several pitches before lacing a single to left field that scored Scott Shockley and extended the Hens’ lead to 3-1. On the very next pitch, rightfielder Dan Richardson hit a titanic blast over the left field wall to put the Hens up 6-1 and open up the floodgates. The Hens would add three more runs before the inning ended, taking advantage of four Monarch errors to score eight unearned runs.

The big bottom of the sixth may not have been possible without the outstanding work done by Brown in the top of the inning. Entering the game with the bases loaded and one out and the Hens leading 2-1, Brown struck out ODU catcher Patrick Nichols swinging and second baseman Cameron Scott looking to end the threat. After the eight-run Delaware half of the sixth, Brown put down the Monarchs on only five pitches in the seventh to sustain the momentum for the Blue Hens.

Brown did not allow an earned run in 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first save of the season. McGuire allowed only three hits and struck out eight in 5.1 before giving way to Brown, earning his second win of 2006. Gunter was the hard-luck loser for the Monarchs with only one of the 10 runs scored against him earned as his defense betrayed him by committing eight errors.

The game marked the first time Delaware defeated a ranked opponent since the last game of the 2003 season when the Hens downed #22 Rutgers, 3-2, in Piscataway, NJ.

The Blue Hens will return to action on Saturday, weather permitting, with game two of the weekend set against ODU set for 1 p.m.

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