CHARLESTON, SC -- Junior Jared Olson crushed a home run and added an RBI double as the University of Delaware topped The Citadel, 6-4, in the final game of the three-game series at Riley Park.

With the win, the Blue Hens took two of their three games against The Citadel, marking just the second time since 1996 that Delaware won its first series of the season. The 2006 team also accomplished the feat, winning 2-of-3 from Richmond.

Delaware (2-1) got on the board quickly, as senior tri-captain Adam Tsakonas slammed the team’s first home run of the spring in the top of the first inning. After Alex Buchholz followed with a one-out single and stole second, Olson (at right) spotted the team a two-run lead after roping an RBI double to centerfield.

The following inning, the Hens threw four more runs on the board. Jon Duvall worked a walk to start off the surge and was followed by a single from Kyle Davis. After the Bulldogs brought in reliever Raymond Copenhaver for the third straight game, Alex Buchholz greeted him with a two-run double to left field.

Olson followed Buchholz with his first home run on the season, a two-run shot to right that gave the Hens a 6-0 lead.

Four innings later, The Citadel (1-2) got on the board after answering the Delaware rally with a four-run inning of its own. Although the Bulldogs had managed only four hits off Blue Hen starter Brian Rorick during the first five innings, Richard Jones and Bryan Altman notched back-to-back singles off the righty in the sixth. Following the second out of the inning, Rorick hit Sid Fallaw before surrendering a grand slam to Chris McGuiness, which cut the Hens’ lead down to two at 6-4.

The two-run deficit was as close as The Citadel would get after the Delaware bullpen worked 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Dan Richardson and Steve Spiese worked 1.2 innings out of the bullpen before handing the ball off to closer David Slovak.

After getting the Hens out of a minor jam in the eighth, Slovak found himself in a bigger one in the ninth after allowing back-to-back singles which put Bulldog runners at first and third with no outs. However, the Delaware relief ace proceeded to strike out the next two batters before inducing a ground out to end the game.

Rorick picked up his first career win, while Slovak notched his first save of the season. Matt Talley, who started for The Citadel, took the loss.

Along with Olson, Buchholz and Davis led the Blue Hen offense, finishing with two hits each. The top four hitters in the lineup combined for all seven of Delaware's hits to go along with six RBI and five runs scored.

With the victory, Delaware improves to 5-2 all-time against The Citadel. Prior to this series, the Hens and Bulldogs last met in the 1983 NCAA Regionals with both teams winning one game apiece.

Delaware will return to action on Saturday at 12 noon for the first of back-to-back doubleheaders against Ivy League power Princeton at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Boxscore