PISCAThe University of Delaware baseball team jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished it as the Hens toppled Rutgers, 5-3, during their non-conference showdown at Bainton Field on Wednesday afternoon.

One day after allowing a late inning rally to Delaware State that cost them the game, the Hens refused to suffer the same fate against the Scarlet Knights as they grabbed a four-run first-inning lead and held on to capture the win.

Ryan Reed and Jared Olson (at right) both roped two hits for Delaware (11-19), while Chris Nehl knocked in a pair of runs. Freshman starter Corey Crispell also had the best outing of his career, allowing just two hits while striking out five over five strong innings of work.

The Hens got off to a great start as the team scored four times in the first. During the frame, Adam Tsakonas walked and Alex Buchholz doubled before Scott Shockley ripped an RBI groundout to second and Reed notched a run-scoring single to right center.

Up two with one on, Delaware loaded the bases after Olson roped his first single of the game and Pat Dameron was hit by a pitch. With the bags packed, Chris Nehl came through with a two-run single down the left field line, which put the Hens up four.

While Delaware jumped out quickly, Crispell held Rutgers (9-19) in check, putting the Knights down in order during the first two innings before allowing his first hit of the day on a two-out single in the third.

The Hens supported their young ace with another run in the top of the third as Olson and Dameron smacked back-to-back singles, Nehl laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Ryan Cuneo laced a sacrifice fly to center.

With a 5-0 lead, the Hens hit their first rough patch in the bottom of the fourth. Dan Betteridge opened the frame with a walk, and two batters later, Crispell hit Jarred Jimenez with a pitch to put two on with just one out. Jaren Matthews made Delaware pay after lining a double to right center that plated both runners to pull the Knights within three at 5-2.

After the third, the Delaware lineup could not respond to the Rutgers rally as the Hens went down in order during three of their last five trips to the plate. Despite cooling off at the plate, Delaware’s pitching staff continued to quiet the Knights.

Crispell completed his night after pitching through the fifth inning, while David Slovak fired two scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen. Although Rutgers put three runners on during Slovak’s two innings, Nehl helped his pitcher out after gunning down two of them attempting to steal.

With his two successful innings in the book, Slovak handed the ball off to Brian Rorick. Although the sophomore walked two of the three batters he faced, current conference Rookie of the Week Matt Harden worked out of the jam, inducing a ground ball double play to end the threat.

In the ninth, Harden found himself in his own predicament as Rutgers loaded the bases against the freshman after Jon Gossard and Pat Biserta both walked and Luis Feliz hit a single through the left side of the infield.

In a bind, Delaware brought in Joe Tebaldi out of the bullpen, and after forcing Victor Cegles to ground into an RBI fielder’s choice, he struck out Donny Callahan to end the game.

Tebaldi picked up his first save of the season and lowered his ERA to 2.70, while Crispell (1-4) earned the first win of his career. Tony Wargo took the loss for Rutgers after allowing all five Delaware runs in his seven-inning outing.

The Hens will return to action on Friday at 3 p.m. when they begin a three-game series with James Madison in Harrisonburg, VA.

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