NEWARK, DE -- A clutch walk-off double by junior co-captain Alex Buchholz capped an incredible rally in the squad’s home opener as the University of Delaware baseball team split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Princeton at Bob Hannah Stadium after winning the first game, 12-11, before dropping the nightcap, 19-4.

In the opener, the Blue Hens found themselves trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the second and 11-2 in the third before scoring 10 unanswered runs over the last five innings of the game to complete the improbable comeback.

The rally was highlighted by an incredible seven-run sixth that saw Delaware (3-2) send 12 batters to the plate. During the inning, sophomore pinch-hitter Josh Dean led off with a home run down the right field line. Jon Duvall and Kyle Davis followed with back-to-back singles before Adam Tsakonas, who hit his second home run of the year earlier in the game, worked a walk to load the bases.

With Princeton in a jam, Buchholz (at right), a preseason All-American selection, followed with an RBI single down the third base line. Jared Olson and Ryan Cuneo came through with RBI walks before Ryan Reed roped a single to left field which chased home Buchholz and knocked Princeton’s reliever Langston Stuber out of the game.

After the Tigers’ new pitcher Tim Feess struck out Matt Harden for the first out of the inning, Josh Dean came through with his second key hit of the frame, roping a single that brought home Olson to cut the Tigers’ lead to one. Duvall then knotted the game at 11 after reaching on an RBI fielder’s choice.

With the game tied, the Hens brought in relief ace David Slovak, who quickly retired three straight Tigers to move the game to the bottom of the seventh. After Tsakonas reached on an error to start the inning, Buchholz followed with his walk-off double.

Slovak (1-0) picked up the win for Delaware, but freshman reliever Michael Londino starred out of the bullpen after Delaware ace Mike McGuire was touched up for 11 runs in his two innings of work. Making just his second career appearance, Londino worked three strong innings of relief, striking out six while allowing just a single hit.

Feess (0-1) took the loss after surrendering the Hens’ game-winning run in the seventh.

In the nightcap, the Tigers once again jumped out to a large lead after outscoring the Hens 9-3 over the first four innings. This time, however, Princeton (1-1) continued its offensive onslaught as the Tigers added a 10-run sixth to outpace Delaware, 19-4.

In the opening frame of the second game, the Hens got on the board first after Davis started the inning with a triple before Buchholz knocked him in with a line-drive hit to right field. Although starter Corey Crispell was spotted a lead, he could not hold on as the freshman righty surrendered six runs, including four earned, in the top of the second.

Delaware fought back in the third and cut the deficit to three after Tsakonas hit a one-out double before Buchholz crushed his first home run of the season to right field. The three-run deficit was as close as the Hens would get, though, as the Tigers chased Crispell for three more runs in the top of the fourth before exploding for 10 in the sixth.

Battling darkness and evening shadows, Delaware had one last shot to make a run at Princeton in the bottom of the sixth. Buchholz roped a one-out double in the frame before Cuneo and Pat Dameron added back-to-back singles. The Tigers’ Steven Miller buckled down and stifled the Hen rally as he forced Chris Nehl to fly out to centerfield to end the threat.

Following the inning, the umpires and coaches decided to call the game due to darkness. Miller picked up his first win of the season for Princeton, while Crispell suffered his second loss.

Buchholz finished the day 5-for-8 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI. Dameron had an excellent day at the plate as well, roping three hits in four at bats. Duvall and Davis also had three hits each, while Dean, Reed, and Cuneo added two RBI apiece.

The Blue Hens will return to action tomorrow for a 12 noon doubleheader to close out their four-game series with Princeton.

Game No. 1 Boxscore

Game No. 2 Boxscore