Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Game No. 1 Boxscore

Game No. 2 Boxscore

HEMPSTEAD, NY - Rich O'Donald fired a five-hit shutout and Carlos Alonso finished the day with seven hits to help the University of Delaware baseball team split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader with Hofstra as the Blue Hens rebounded from a 5-4 setback in the opener with a convincing 19-0 victory in the nightcap at University Stadium.

After dropping the opening game of the doubleheader, Delaware (21-12, 7-5) capitalized on an incredible effort by O'Donald (top right) to earn the split. During the second game, the freshman ace shut down the Pride attack as he struck out eight over nine spotless innings on the mound.

As usual, the offensive did major damage as well, plating 23 runs on 31 hits during the twin bill. Alonso (bottom right) led the way, ripping seven hits in 10 at bats. Ryan Reed also chipped in with four hits, while Matt Greco scored four runs.

Following a 5-4 setback to Hofstra (6-21, 2-10) in the first game, the Blue Hens had an emphatic answer in the latter contest. During the early going, O’Donald breezed through the Pride lineup while the Delaware offense started to pad its lead.

After Reed opened the scoring with an RBI single in the third, the squad exploded for five runs in the fourth. Pat Dameron started the surge with a double to left center before Alonso followed with an RBI single. Later, Bill Merkler, Chris Nehl, and Reed chipped in with run-scoring hits as well to cap the rally.

Not satisfied with their six-run lead, the Hens stretched their advantage to double digits with a four-spot in the fifth. Greco started the frame with a screaming double to right center before Kyle Davis chased him in with a single. Later, Reed ripped a two-run single to center, while Ryan Cuneo scored on a wild pitch to give the squad a 10-0 lead.

After Greco came back with his second double and scored again in the sixth, the freshman outfielder helped Delaware slap another four runs on the board in the seventh. The Blue Hens quickly loaded the bases with just one out before Greco opened the scoring with an RBI single. Later, Dameron brought in one with a walk and Davis added an RBI single before Alonso reached on a fielder’s choice that plated Greco.

With the assistance of three Hofstra miscues, Delaware returned with a matching four-run rally in the eighth to grab a 19-run lead. Steve Ulaky and Todd Menchaca both brought in runs with pinch-hit singles, while Greco drew a bases-loaded walk and Alonso added an RBI hit to close out the scoring.

With the lineup doing damage at the plate, O’Donald continued to excel on the mound. He faced the minimum through the first four innings and eventually allowed just four runners to reach scoring position, one of which he quickly picked off.

O’Donald (4-2) retired the side in order on five occasions on the way to his second complete-game victory of the season. Nick Panzarella (0-4) took the loss despite allowing only two earned runs during his time on the mound.

Alonso finished the second game with five hits and three RBI, while Reed and Greco both had three hits.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Blue Hens were not quite as productive despite getting out of the chute quickly. The first four batters of the game all reached base as Alonso led off with a single, moved to second on a walk by Ryan Cuneo, and scored when Merkler lined a single to left. After Reed was plunked by a pitch, Scott Shockley drove in Cuneo with a base hit to left.

With a 25-run loss still fresh in their memory from Friday, the Pride refused to let the game get out of hand early. Trailing by two, Hofstra quickly mounted a comeback in the bottom of the first. Aided by a Blue Hen error and highlighted by an RBI single from Matt Prokopowicz, the Pride used a three-run rally to take a 3-2 lead.

Following a scoreless second, the Blue Hens responded in the third. Merkler and Reed kicked off the inning with back-to-back singles before Dameron chased them both home with a two-run base hit.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom of the third when Hofstra retook a one-run advantage at 5-4 with a pair of runs.

Unfortunately, in the latter innings, Delaware could not recapture its potent punch that resulted in 50 runs during the series. Although the Blue Hens put a runner on base during each of the next three innings, none of them could score.

Eventually, Jeff Guthridge came in and slammed the door shut, retiring the side in order during the final two frames to pick up his second save and seal the victory for starter Rob Kumbatovic (3-4).

Brad Miller (3-3) took the loss despite surrendering just three earned runs over his five frames of work.

The Blue Hens will be back in action on Tuesday at 8 p.m. when they square off with Villanova in the finals of the Liberty Bell Classic at Citizens Bank Park.