NEWARK, DE -- After facing back-to-back complete games and mustering only one run on eight hits through the first two games of the series, the University of Delaware offense bounced back in a big way by putting up 12 runs on 13 hits in a 12-9 win over Old Dominion on Sunday afternoon at Bud Metheny Complex.

Alex Buchholz (right) had three hits, a home run and three RBI, while Ryan Jablonski and Adam Tsakonas each scored three runs. Chris Keenan and Nick Erdman had three hits apiece for the Monarchs (27-17, 14-6 CAA).

The Blue Hens (15-18, 8-9 CAA) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Buchholz doubled down the right field line with two outs to score Jablonski from second base. The Hens put runners on first and second with only one out in the fourth. After Danny Overcash flew out to center for the second out, Kyle Davis worked a walk to load the bases for Jablonski. However, Monarch starter Ryan Bergh got Jablonski to ground out to first base to end the threat and leave the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the inning, ODU’s Anthony Shawler, who shut out the Hens on Saturday, tied the game with his fifth home run of the season.

Delaware took the lead back in the fifth inning. With two outs, Bryan Hagerich stole second and came around to score on a double by Tsakonas. Bill Merkler followed with a single to score Tsakonas, and after Scott Shockley was hit and Overcash walked, Bergh’s day was done. New pitcher Hunter Hall got Davis to fly out to right field to end the inning and leave the bases loaded for the second straight inning.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth, Hall’s 2-1 delivery to Tsakonas got through the legs of catcher Joe Velleggia and Jablonski scampered home with the fourth Delaware run. On Hall’s 3-2 pitch to Tsakonas the Delaware first baseman sent his third home run of the season over the wall in left to put the Hens up 6-1.

Old Dominion stormed back and took the lead in the sixth. With one out a double-play ground ball was booted by Davis and no outs were recorded. Erdman then singled up the middle to score Shawler for the second time on the day. Jake McAloose followed with a single to score David Burns to make it 6-3. Chad Kerfoot then threw a pitch in the dirt, and Merkler’s errant throw to third brought home Erdman to make it 6-4. Cameron Scott was then hit, and Kerfoot was replaced by Mike McGuire. McGuire walked Velleggia on four pitches to load the bases with only one out. McGuire then hit Gerard Hall with a 1-2 pitch to make it 6-5. Chris Keenan then lined McGuire’s 3-2 pitch down the line in right to clear the bases. Overcash bobbled the ball in the corner to allow Keenan to advance to third, and the Monarchs led 8-6. McGuire was lifted in favor of Matt Heppner without recording an out. Heppner struck out Mike Zahm and got Shawler to pop up to end the inning. The Monarchs scored seven runs on only four hits and three Delaware errors. All seven runs scored after the error on the double play ball.

After Old Dominion’s big inning, the Hens responded with a big inning of their own in the top of the seventh. Shockley walked to lead off and Hall was replaced by Ross Fetterly. Fetterly walked Overcash on four pitches, and Davis’ sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third with one out. Jablonski ripped a ball that got past Keenan at third, scoring both Shockley and Overcash and putting Jablonski on second. Brandon Menchaca followed with a double to the corner in right to score Jablonski to put the Hens up 9-8, and then Buchholz capped the rally by crushing a Fetterly offering over the wall in left to put the Hens up 11-8.

The Monarchs wasted little time getting back into the game. David Burns hit his eighth home run of the year to lead off the seventh, and then Erdman’s second double of the day chased Heppner from the game in favor of David Slovak. Slovak then retired the side and left Erdman on third with a two-run Delaware lead intact.

The Hens loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Fetterly was able to strike out Jablonski and get Menchaca to fly out to center to end the inning. It was the third time the Hens left the bases loaded in the game. In the bottom half, Keenan led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Slovak then came back to strike out Shawler after falling behind 3-0 and then got Burns to groundout to short to end the inning and leave Keenan at third.

The Hens added one in the top of the ninth when Merkler’s rainmaker right behind second base fell in between the centerfielder and middle infielders. Tsakonas, running hard all the way with two outs, was able to score and give the Hens a three-run lead. Slovak put the Monarchs down in three batters in the ninth to close out the game.

Heppner picked up the win to move to 3-4, while Fetterly took the loss to fall to 0-2. Slovak worked three innings to earn his sixth save.

The Hens return to action on Tuesday when they host La Salle at 3 p.m.

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