NEWARK, DE – Thirteen Blue Hens recorded at least one hit and five cracked home runs as the University of Delaware baseball team stormed past Temple, 22-4, at Bob Hannah Stadium on a warm Wednesday afternoon.

Scott Shockley and Pat Dameron (at right) both had three hits and a home run, while Jared Olson, Bill Merkler, and Josh Dean each chipped in with two hits and a long ball. Ryan Cuneo also extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a sixth-inning double.

Cuneo’s roll is now tied for the eighth longest streak in program history. Mike Gomez and George Gross share the all-time record with matching 28-game stretches.

The outcome was the most lop-sided victory for Delaware (20-28) over a Division I opponent since the Hens defeated Saint Joseph’s, 26-4, in 2004. The 22 runs were also the most scored by Delaware since the same game.

Although the contest eventually became one-sided, Temple (21-25) held an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Stan Orzechowski homered on the very first pitch of the game before Matt Heltz lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield later in the inning.

Following a Dameron home run in the bottom of the first that cut the Hens’ deficit in half, the floodgates opened in the team’s second trip to the plate. Delaware tacked on three runs in the second when Olson crushed a two-run homer down the right field line before Dean ripped a solo shot to left.

After going down quickly in the third, the Blue Hens struck for at least three runs in the next four innings of play. In the fourth, Delaware loaded the bases with one out before Kyle Davis notched an RBI fielder’s choice to open the scoring. A two-run single by Scott Shockley pushed the team’s lead to five at 7-2.

The team scored five more in the fifth when Merkler cranked a three run blast to centerfield, Davis ripped an RBI triple, and Dameron doubled-in the final run of the frame. With their lead stretched to double digits, the Hens continued their onslaught with 10 runs over the next two innings.

After scoring five in the fifth, the team fittingly came back to plate six in the sixth. Dean struck first with an RBI hit to center and was eventually chased in himself after Dameron lined a two-run single to left. With two runners still on base, Shockley cleared them with a three-run blast over the right field fence.

One inning later, Delaware’s reserve players helped highlight a four-run seventh that eventually capped the scoring for the Hens. Danny Overcash, who came in one inning earlier, led off with a base hit to center before Steve Ulaky notched a pinch hit single. Following another hit by Davis that loaded the bases, Jon Duvall, a late-inning defensive replacement, worked an RBI walk. Chris DiLullo followed with his third hit of the season on an RBI rope to right. Cuneo knocked in the next run with a sacrifice fly before Todd Menchaca, a sixth-inning substitution, laced an RBI single to left.

Leading by 20, Delaware allowed its last two runs of the game in the top of the eighth when Jamie Abercrombie notched a two-run double to right that cut the Hens’ lead to 22-4.

Although the offense was deservedly the story of the day, the Delaware pitching staff also did well. Following five strong innings by starter Corey Crispell (3-3), Alex Dalsey and Steve Spiese turned in scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh. After Joe Tebaldi worked himself out of a rough spot in the eighth, Matt Harden fired a hitless ninth to seal the victory.

Duvall also made the defensive play of the game at second base in the seventh when he completed a diving glove-hand stab on a rocket off the bat of Steve Nikorak. After regaining his footing, he easily doubled-up the Temple runner at first who was moving on the play.

Nikorak (1-3), who performed double-duty for the Owls, took the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits in three innings of work. After moving to first base, he eventually notched a hit of his own.

With the victory, Delaware has now out-scored its Big 5 opponents by a combined 55-9 margin this year. Earlier in the season, the Hens downed Saint Joseph’s, 17-2, before beating the Owls, 16-3, at Skip Wilson Field in April.

The win also marked the Hens’ 20th of the year. The program has now won 20 or more games in 36 consecutive seasons dating back to the 1972 campaign.

Delaware will return to action on Friday when the team opens its final home conference series of the season against Towson at 3 p.m. Senior Day festivities are scheduled for Saturday.

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