COLLEGE PARK, MD – The University of Delaware baseball team squandered several key opportunities during the game as the Hens dropped their ninth straight decision after suffering a 5-1 setback to the Maryland Terrapins at Shipley Field on Tuesday night.

During the contest, Delaware (3-10) stranded 12 runners on base, including nine in scoring position. In each of the first eight innings, the Hens moved a runner to second base but only one eventually crossed the plate.

Maryland (6-7) scored all the runs it needed in the second inning as the Terps notched two off of Delaware starter Dan Richardson. After Mike Murphy opened the frame with a double to left center and Will Greenberg singled, both runners came home on back-to-back RBI ground outs by A.J. Casario and Nick Jowers.

Two innings later, Jowers came back to hurt the Hens again as he tacked on Maryland’s third run of the game on a home run to centerfield.

Although the Hens fell behind early, the team still had plenty of opportunities to make up the deficit. In both the first and third, Delaware put runners on second with less than two outs, including the latter inning which saw Kyle Davis lead off with a double to left. However, both times the team was unable to light up the scoreboard.

Delaware also moved runners into scoring position in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth before a Hen finally came home in the seventh.

During Delaware’s rally, Jon Duvall led off with a single and Kyle Davis worked a walk. The Hens then benefited from an error by shortstop Steve Braun on a sharply-hit ball by Adam Tsakonas that loaded the bases with no outs. After a sacrifice fly by Buchholz brought in Duvall, the offense once again could not take full advantage of the situation as Bill Merkler struck out and Pat Dameron grounded out to end the inning.

In the eighth, Maryland capped off the scoring after Blue Hen reliever Michael Londino, who pitched flawless ball during his first two innings of work, surrendered a two-run home run to Gerry Spessard, which put the Terrapins up, 5-1.

For the first and only time in the game, Delaware went down in order in the ninth as Tsakonas flew out before Buchholz and Merkler grounded out to end the contest.

Despite picking up the loss, senior Dan Richardson (0-1), who was making his first start on the mound for the Hens, pitched well for the team. In his five innings of work, he scattered six hits and struck out two.

Maryland’s Brett Harman (1-0), who struck out two during his two-inning relief stint, picked up the win. Matt Quinn notched his first save of the season.

Junior catcher Ryan Reed (above) led the Delaware offense, roping three hits including two doubles. Buchholz also went 1-for-3 with a walk and the team’s only RBI.

The Blue Hens return to action for a 3 p.m. showdown with Maryland tomorrow before coming home for conference play on Friday against Northeastern at 2:30.

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