Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

TOWSON, Md. - Despite falling behind by seven runs in the first inning, the University of Delaware baseball team used a valiant effort to score eight unanswered runs on the way to an 8-7 victory over Towson during a Colonial Athletic Association bout on Saturday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.

With the victory, Delaware (12-6, 2-0 CAA) extended its winning streak to six games. It marks the longest roll by the Blue Hens since the team took 11 straight in the latter part of the 2007 campaign.

Although Blue Hen starter Will Blackman struggled in just his second start of the season, reliever Michael Londino (at right) had an outstanding day on the mound. The sophomore right-hander allowed the Blue Hen offense to complete its comeback as he held Towson (11-10, 0-2) scoreless in his 6.2 innings of work out of the bullpen.

While Londino was taming the Tigers, Chris Nehl and Bill Merkler led the resurgence on the offensive side. Nehl ripped three hits and knocked in two runs, while Merkler drove in the final four runs of the game, including three on a clutch home run in the seventh.

After Towson plated seven early runs against Blackman, the hosts sustained their lead and held Delaware quiet in the early going. Despite the team’s early struggles, the Blue Hens never surrendered and eventually fought back in the latter part of the game.

The potent Delaware attack first struck in the fifth with a short one-out rally. Carlos Alonso worked a walk and Ryan Cuneo was plunked by a pitch to put a pair of Hens on base. Nehl quickly followed with a screaming double to right center that chased in Delaware’s first two runs.

With Londino still cruising on the mound, the Blue Hens exploded for five runs in the seventh to knot the game at seven. Kyle Davis and Alonso started the frame with back-to-back singles before Nehl reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Jared Olson quickly made room on the base paths, roping a two-run single back up the middle to pull Delaware back within three.

Merkler immediately followed with a crushing blow to Towson as the senior slugger launched a three-run blast over the left field wall that evened the game and gave Delaware new life.

The Tigers pieced together a short rally in the bottom of the frame that eventually saw the team load the bases with two outs. Despite the scare, Londino worked out of the jam, inducing an inning-ending fly out to center.

Brad Miller took over for Londino in the eighth and continued Delaware’s strong bullpen performance. He quickly put the Tigers down in order in the eighth before the Blue Hens put the game away in their final trip to the plate.

In the top of the ninth, Olson worked a two-out walk and quickly moved into scoring position after swiping second. Merkler followed with a single through the left side that plated Olson and gave the team its first lead of the game at 8-7.

Now with the advantage, Miller (3-1) returned to the mound and closed out the game to seal the come-from-behind victory. The junior earned the victory after allowing just one hit while striking out a pair in the final two frames.

Josh Squatrito took the loss despite allowing only one run in his two innings on the mound.

Scott Shockley finished the game with two hits for the Hens, while Alonso extended his hitting streak to nine games and also scored twice.

Towson was led by the Collins brothers as both Matt and Kevin posted two hits and knocked in a pair of runs. Jason Stifler and Gary Helmick also notched two hits for the Tigers.

Delaware and Towson will cap their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.