Top Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Bottom Photo Courtesy of Brian Miller

Boxscore

HEMPSTEAD, NY - It proved to be a great Friday for Ryan Cuneo and the University of Delaware baseball team as the Blue Hens exploded for a 27-2 victory over Hofstra during a Colonial Athletic Association showdown at University Field.

The 25-run win marked the largest margin of victory for the Hens in a CAA contest. Their 27 runs also stand as the most by the team since a 29-4 victory over Rider on April 16, 1997.

Cuneo (at right) led the onslaught, tying the program’s single-game record with three home runs. Ryan Reed and Pat Dameron also posted five hits during the game, while Carlos Alonso roped four and scored four runs.

Delaware (20-11, 6-4 CAA) started quickly and never let up as the squad plastered 13 runs on the board in the first three innings against Hofstra (5-20, 1-9). Chris Nehl started the rally with a two-run single before Jared Olson and Scott Shockley knocked in a run apiece during the first inning.

After Hofstra plated one in the bottom of the frame, Cuneo answered with his first blast of the day, clocking a two-run shot to centerfield. Dameron continued the surge in the third after drawing a bases-loaded walk before Kyle Davis chipped in with a sacrifice fly. Alonso, Cuneo, and Bill Merkler followed with RBI knocks before Ryan Reed capped the frame with a two-run home run to left.

With a 13-1 lead, the offense continued to click while Brian Rorick kept Hofstra quiet. The junior right-hander struck out a pair and allowed just one base runner from the second through the fourth.

In the fifth, Cuneo struck again as the team’s star first baseman blasted his second two-run shot to centerfield. Shockley followed with an RBI double, while Dameron drove in a pair with a single to center to close out a five-run rally that left the team with an 18-1 advantage.

Following Hofstra’s second and final run of the game in the fifth, Cuneo and Merkler quickly responded with back-to-back blasts in the top of the sixth. For Merkler, it marked his 15th of the season, tying him for 10th place on the program’s single-season home run list.

After Dameron continued the rally and drove in his fourth run of the game with a double to right center, Davis followed with the squad’s third home run of the inning as Delaware’s senior co-captain drilled a two-run homer to left center.

Two innings later, the Hens finished their offensive outburst with a three-run rally highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Danny Overcash and RBI doubles by Steve Ulaky and Ryan Reed.

Although the offense gave Rorick (3-1) a lot of leeway, the Blue Hen ace needed little as he dominated throughout the contest. Eventually, he scattered just five hits while striking out four over eight stellar innings on the mound.

Rorick was backed by a well-balanced offense that saw 13 different players record hits and 11 knock in runs. Cuneo posted a season-high six RBI, while Dameron chipped in with four. Reed, Cuneo, and Alonso also all scored four runs apiece.

Delaware will look to continue its success tomorrow when the Hens and Pride square off for the second game of their three-game series at 2 p.m.