Boxscore / / File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

FARMVILLE, Va. - Despite jumping out to an early five-run lead, the University of Delaware baseball team could not hang on as Longwood rode a seven-run sixth inning to a 14-7 victory in Sunday’s series finale at the Lancer Stadium.

Bill Merkler cracked a three-run home run and Chris Nehl (at right) posted three hits, but the Blue Hens (2-2) faltered late as the team watched their 7-2 lead in the fifth evaporate after the Lancers posted 12 unanswered runs to close out the game.

After Longwood (2-2) fell behind early, the team cut its deficit to four in the fifth before a seven-run sixth quickly erased Delaware’s lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, RBI singles by Robby Newman and Dustin Sollars and a run-scoring double by Mark Montgomery chased Blue Hen starter Brad Miller from the game. Sam Cerbo, who had a lights-out performance in his collegiate debut, was called from the bullpen but could not work out of a bases-loaded jam.

Brant Jones ripped a double down the leftfield line that cleared the bases and gave Longwood a 9-7 lead. Phil Cerreto immediately followed with a single to center to chase in Jones.

After tacking on a single-run in the seventh, the Lancers put the game away in the eighth when David Smiy smacked a bases-loaded triple to right center that sealed the team’s 14-7 victory.

Smiy, Cerreto, and Jones all knocked in three runs for the home team, while Merkler plated a game-high four for the Hens.

The game looked promising at the start after Ryan Cuneo and Chris Nehl singled before a Longwood error spotted Delaware an early 1-0 lead. Merkler immediately made the team pay even more for the miscue after the senior clubbed a three-run shot to left field.

Although Longwood answered with a single score in the bottom of the first, Delaware added a run in the second, third, and fourth to pad its early lead.

Carlos Alonso knocked in two after recording an RBI groundout in the second and a run-scoring single in the fourth. Merkler punched in the other run, plating Jared Olson with a single in the third.

Merkler finished the day with two hits and four RBI. Ryan Reed also had a pair of hits and a stolen base.

Miller fired 5.2 innings for Delaware but was handed the loss after surrendering eight hits and six earned runs.

Matt Gwaltney picked up the win for Longwood after helping the Lancers get out of a jam unscathed in the sixth. Lance Harting earned the save after working three spotless innings out of the bullpen.

Delaware will return to action on Friday when the team travels to Virginia to take on Fordham at 12 noon.