Game 1 Boxscore / Game 2 Boxscore / File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

FARMVILLE, Va. - Behind a three-home run effort by Jared Olson, the University of Delaware baseball team split Saturday’s doubleheader with Longwood after posting a 22-6 victory in the opener before falling, 9-3, in the nightcap at Lancer Stadium.

The 22 runs in the opener tied the most scored by the Blue Hens against a Division I opponent since a 26-4 victory over Saint Joseph's in 2004.

During the two games, Olson (at right) roped four hits, including three home runs, while knocking in six. Ryan Cuneo added five hits, while Ryan Reed and Kyle Davis added four apiece.

In the first game, Longwood jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first, but the Blue Hens had an immediate answer. In the top of the second, Delaware loaded the bases with no outs before a wild pitch brought in Bill Merkler. Following a walk, Davis knocked in the second run with a sacrifice fly to left.

Olson’s first home run of the day gave the Hens a 3-2 lead in the third before Delaware plated five in the fourth.

During the rally, RBI singles by Alonso, Cuneo, and Chris Nehl put the team up by four before Olson capped the inning with his second blast of the day on a two-run shot to left.

Nehl eventually chased in another run in the sixth, while Davis knocked in one and Alonso brought home two with run-scoring singles in the seventh to give the team a 12-6 advantage.

With the game already in hand, Delaware put it completely out of reach with an incredible 10-run ninth. Davis, Nehl, and Olson all brought in runs before the Hens loaded the bases for Scott Shockley.

The senior co-captain quickly put the punctuation mark on the win with a grand slam to left. Cuneo and Nehl eventually topped off the inning with RBI singles to give the team a 22-6 victory.

Corey Crispell benefited from the onslaught, earning his first win of the season. The sophomore fired five strong innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs while striking out three.

Delaware carried some momentum over into the second game as Alonso opened with a single, moved to second on a ground out, stole third, and came home on an RBI single by Olson.

Despite the early advantage, the Blue Hens could not keep the Lancers down as the hosts plated five in the bottom of the frame.

After Longwood tacked on two more runs in the third, Delaware chipped away at their 7-1 deficit. Olson led off the third with his final home run of the day, while Shockley knocked in Reed with a sacrifice fly to pull Delaware back within four.

Unfortunately, that was as close as the Hens would get as Longwood’s Lance Harting stifled the Delaware lineup with 3.2 strong innings out of the bullpen.

Freshman Rich O’Donald took the loss after allowing seven earned in four innings of work. Troy Dickman earned the win for Longwood, while Harting picked up his first save of the season.

Delaware and Longwood will conclude their four-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.