NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware baseball team used seven strong innings from starting pitcher Kevin Brown as well as four solo home runs on its way to a 6-5 non-conference win over Rider University Wednesday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Brown (right) allowed only two hits and struck out seven over his seven innings of work, and did not allow a hit until the first batter of the seventh inning. Continually working hitters away, Brown was able to freeze several Rider hitters for called third strikes, as well as keep the Broncs’ hitters off balance all day.

The Hens (7-1) took the lead in the bottom of the third. After Rider had loaded the bases with no outs in the top half of the inning, Brown was able to force shortstop Bryan Wagner to line out and then induced a ground ball double play from Tom Letizia to end the Rider inning. Alex Buchholz, the first Delaware batter following Rider’s threat, homered down the left field line to put the Hens on the board. Centerfielder Brandon Menchaca followed suit in the fourth inning, by taking Rider starter Jim Kennedy over the wall in left centerfield. Two batters after Menchaca, designated hitter Scott Shockley crushed a Kennedy pitch well over the wall in right field to put the Hens up 3-0.

With the Hens up 5-0 in the top of the seventh the Broncs (0-7) showed that they would not go quietly. Catcher Scott Knazek singled to break up the no-hit bid. A walk and an error brought home the first Rider run of the day, and a two-out hit by Jeff Reynolds cut the Delaware lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the eighth freshman Bill Merkler pinch-hit against Rider’s lefty reliever Will O’Connor and provided an insurance run with a long home run to left field. The drive was the Hens’ fourth solo home run of the day. The run turned out to be a key to the victory, as Rider’s Wagner homered off Matt Heppner in the top of the ninth with one on and two out to bring the Broncs within one run. Heppner, however, was able to retire Letizia on a ground out to third to end the rally and secure the win for Delaware. Brown earned the win for Delaware, while Kennedy took the loss for Rider in his first college start. Heppner earned the save for nailing down the win in the ninth.

The Blue Hens will return to action this weekend when they host Marist in a three-game set. First pitch from Newark on Friday is set for 2:30 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and a 12 noon first pitch on Sunday.

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