Boxscore / File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

FARMVILLE, Va. - Chris Nehl collected four hits, while Carlos Alonso and Ryan Reed both roped home runs to lead the University of Delaware baseball team to a 10-7 victory over Longwood in the Blue Hens' season-opener on Friday afternoon at Lancer Stadium.

Nehl finished the day 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Reed (at right) and Alonso each posted a pair of hits including a home run to lead a potent offensive attack.

Freshman Sam Cerbo picked up the victory in his collegiate debut after working three scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Trailing 5-4 entering the top of the seventh, the Blue Hens found their stride late in the game. After Kyle Davis worked a walk and Alonso was hit by a pitch, Ryan Cuneo ripped an RBI single to centerfield to knot the game at five.

With two on and nobody out, Nehl smacked a double down the leftfield line that chased in Alonso to give Delaware a 6-5 lead. Eventually, Pat Dameron and Scott Shockley helped the team tack on two more insurance runs after both men drilled RBI singles to cap the inning.

Leading by three, the Blue Hens iced the game in the ninth after a double by Nehl, walk by Olson, and bunt single by Josh Dean loaded the bases for Reed. With one out, the senior standout clubbed a shot to left that brought in a pair.

Although a two-run double by Brant Jones in the bottom of the ninth brought the Lancers back within three, closer Matt Harden settled in and finished out the game.

Dameron and Cuneo both tallied a pair of hits for the Blue Hens, while Alonso scored three runs.

In the first inning, the Blue Hens quickly shook off any rust that may have accumulated during their nine-month layoff. Alonso, Cuneo, and Nehl opened the game with three straight singles that resulted in the team’s first run, while Bill Merkler added an RBI groundout to stake Delaware an early 2-0 lead.

After Longwood chased Delaware starter Brian Rorick for a pair of runs in the second, solo shots by Alonso and Reed eventually gave Delaware a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth.

Despite a two-run rally by the Lancers in the fifth that saw the team take their first lead of the afternoon at 5-4, the Blue Hen offense answered with six runs over the final three innings of play.

Rorick worked five innings for the Hens, allowing four earned runs and striking out six. Cerbo took over in the sixth and looked strong in his debut, striking out three while retiring the Lancers in order during two of his three innings on the mound.

Lance Harting took the loss for Longwood after surrendering six runs in his three innings of work.

The Blue Hens and Lancers will continue their four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.