BALTIMORE, MD -- Alex Buchholz' double in the ninth inning scored Brandon Menchaca from first base with the winning run as the University of Delaware baseball team extended its winning streak to six games with a 5-4 triumph over UMBC in a non-league game Tuesday night in Baltimore.

Adam Tsakonas (at right) had three hits for the Hens (20-18), while Menchaca scored twice.

For the fourth consecutive game, the Blue Hens took a lead in the top of the first. Ryan Jablonski and Menchaca led off with walks, and Bryan Hagerich's one-out single scored Jablonski from second. The Hens appeared to take a 2-0 lead, but Tsakonas' ground ball hit off Hagerich's helmet, and the umpires ruled Hagerich was not yet to the base, so he was ruled out and Menchaca had to return to second base.

UMBC (10-30) got its first two runners on base in the third, but Delaware starter Todd Ozog got Joe Fowler to ground into a double play and then got Will Delawter to ground out to short to end the inning.

The Hens used small ball to extend their lead in the top of the fourth. Tsakonas led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout to the right side by Bill Merkler and then scored on a sacrfice fly by Ryan Cuneo. The Retrievers appeared to be out of the inning when Matt Buchholz struck out Danny Overcash, but the ball got away from catcher Tom Rinaldi and Overcash reached first safely. After Kyle Davis walked, Jablonski ripped a single to left that scored Overcash to put the Hens up 3-0.

UMBC tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and one out, Delaware reliever Mike McGuire's errant pickoff throw brought in one run from second and moved another runner to second. After McGuire walked Isaac Freidel, Tom Rinaldi's RBI fielder's choice cut the lead to 3-2. Mark Lemon then tripled down the rightfield line to tie the game.

Delaware took the lead on an unearned run in the top of the seventh. Menchaca was hit by
a pitch, stole second and scored when Buchholz' ground ball to third was air-mailed out of play by Lemon.

UMBC tied the game in the bottom of the eight with an unearned run off of Delaware closer David Slovak. Rinaldi walked with two outs, and then Lemon singled to second and the ball was thrown away by Davis, allowing Rinaldi to advance to third. Mike Scheffel's grounder then found its way through the middle to score Rinaldi with the unearned run to tie the game.

In the top of the ninth, Menchaca led off with a walk and then scored on Buchholz' double down the third base line. The Hens then loaded the bases, but UMBC's Tom Schlein struck out Scott Shockley to end the inning.

Slovak put down the Retrievers in the ninth inning to close the game out. Slovak picked up the win to move to 2-3, while Rob Hendry took the loss to fall to 0-2.

The Hens return to action with a weekend series at home against Colonial Athletic Association rival William & Mary.

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