Boxscore

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Delaware baseball team scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Blue Hens cruised to a 15-3 victory over Fordham at Virginia’s Davenport Field on Saturday afternoon.

Bill Merkler and Carlos Alonso (at right) both went 3-for-5, while Ryan Cuneo and Jared Olson launched home runs to lead the potent offensive attack. Junior starter Brad Miller also had a strong day on the mound, allowing only five hits and two runs in seven innings of work.

From the start, the Blue Hens looked in control of the game, which was rescheduled in order to avoid possible inclement weather tomorrow. In the team's first trip through the lineup, Delaware tacked four runs on the board, highlighted by RBI singles from Merkler and Scott Shockley.

Following two scoreless innings for both teams, Fordham scratched together a single run in the third before Delaware answered with two in the fourth. During the rally, Alonso led off with a double, and three batters later, Olson clubbed a two-run shot over the right field wall.

Leading by five at 6-1, the Blue Hens put two more on the board in the fifth. Freshman Matt Greco, making his first career start for the team, was at the heart of the rally. The centerfielder roped a double to left that plated Merkler and later came around on an RBI single by Alonso.

Although Fordham answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, Delaware iced the game in the eighth. Following walks to Olson and Shockley, Greco did some more damage with a two-run triple to center. Alonso later knocked in a pair with a double down the leftfield line, and Cuneo slammed a two-run shot to cap a six-run rally.

The teams eventually traded runs in the ninth to close out the game at 15-3.

Alonso and Greco both knocked in three runs and stole a base, while Olson led the way with two steals and three runs scored.

Miller (1-1) picked up the win for his efforts on the mound, while Daniel Munday (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs in his three innings of work.

Delaware will close out its weekend tomorrow when the team takes on Virginia at 12 noon.