File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - Ryan Reed clubbed a two-out three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to lift the University of Delaware baseball team to a 10-8 victory over Marist at Bob Hannah Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Reed (at right) finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Carlos Alonso also clubbed a grand slam in the fourth inning, while Bill Merkler launched his fourth home run in a week to lead Delaware (7-6) to the victory.
After falling behind, 8-6, in the top of the ninth, the Blue Hens rallied for four in the bottom of the inning to pull out the victory. Ryan Cuneo started the rally with a one-out walk before Jared Olson also drew a free pass. With two outs, Merkler drilled a single to left that brought in Zach Costello, who was pinch running for Cuneo. Reed followed with a mammoth blast to left that sent the Blue Hen bench into a frenzy.
The ninth-inning rally was the second time that the Blue Hens showed their grit and fought back from a big deficit. Following a five-run Red Fox surge in the top of the third, Delaware quickly overcame the early-inning setback in the bottom of the fourth.
Staring at a 5-0 deficit, Delaware came storming back. Olson started the rally with a double to right before Merkler slammed his fifth home run of the season after parking a two-run shot to left center. The Blue Hens then loaded the bases for Alonso, who quickly unclogged the base paths with a slam to left.
Chris Nehl momentarily kept the rally going after shearing his bat in half with a single to right before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Although the senior designated hitter was left stranded in scoring position, the Blue Hens came away with their first lead of the afternoon at 6-5.
While the offense was turning it on, Brian Rorick settled in. Unfazed by the five-run setback in the third, the junior righty pieced together a string of three scoreless innings before being charged for one in the seventh after handing the ball off to the bullpen. Although the Red Foxes looked primed for a big rally in the inning, Corey Crispell got out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the game knotted at six.
Marist eventually broke through against Crispell in the top of the ninth when the sophomore loaded the bases with one out. Brian McDonough followed with a sacrifice fly to break the tie before a Blue Hen miscue handed the Red Foxes an insurance run.
The 8-6 lead quickly evaporated, though, as Reed came through with his late-inning heroics.
Crispell (3-1) earned the win in relief, while Jacob Wiley took the loss after allowing four runs in the ninth.
Delaware and Marist will continue their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
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