Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - Freshman Rich O'Donald fired eight scoreless innings to lead the University of Delaware baseball team to a three-game sweep of Marist with an 8-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
In just his third collegiate start, O'Donald (at right) was lights-out. Over eight innings of work, the Wilmington native struck out four and scattered four hits before handing the ball off to the bullpen.
The sensational freshman was backed by another strong showing from the Delaware offense. The Hens (9-6) increased their league-leading home run total to 29 after posting three more against Marist (6-6). Ryan Cuneo, Jared Olson, and Scott Shockley all left the yard.
Cuneo staked the team an early lead after Carlos Alonso opened the game with a walk before the junior first baseman launched a shot just inside the right field foul poll. Two innings later, Alonso came back to score the team’s third run of the game after doubling to left before scoring on an RBI single by Olson.
Although the Blue Hen bats were quiet in the middle innings, the defense and pitching remained consistently strong. Alonso made an outstanding grab in foul territory to end the fourth inning, while Cuneo and Kyle Davis turned a beautiful 3-6-3 double play to end the fifth.
The lineup eventually came alive again in the latter part of the contest as the team quickly expanded its three-run lead to an 8-0 advantage. Delaware tacked on its first insurance run in the sixth when Shockley doubled to deep centerfield before Pat Dameron laced an RBI single to right.
The next inning, leading 4-0, the Blue Hens doubled their output with a quick four-spot in the seventh. Cuneo led off with a single before Olson clocked a two-run shot to deep right center. After a single by Bill Merkler, Shockley followed suit with a two-run home run down the rightfield line.
Shockley finished the game with two hits and a pair of RBI, while Olson knocked in three. Every Delaware starter recorded a hit in the game as the squad posted 14 just one day after roping 22 in the second game of the series.
The eight runs were all Delaware needed as O'Donald shut down the Red Foxes for eight innings. Despite battling a minor eye ailment that forced him to wear glasses on the mound during the game, the right-hander was nearly unhittable. He retired the side in order five times and never allowed a runner to advance past second.
Although Marist eventually broke through for three runs in the top of the ninth against the Blue Hen bullpen, O'Donald picked up his first career victory. Kyle Putnam took the loss after surrendering four runs in 5.1 innings of work.
Delaware will return to action on Tuesday when the team hosts intrastate rival Wilmington University at 3 p.m.
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