Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

CHARLESTON, S.C. -Despite a three-run rally in the seventh inning that saw the Blue Hens chip their deficit down to one, the University of Delaware baseball team could not complete its comeback as Kansas State pulled away in the ninth to secure an 11-5 victory at Riley Park during The Citadel Memorial Challenge on Friday afternoon.

Eight Blue Hens recorded a hit during the season-opener, including two each by Carlos Alonso (at right) and Hank Yates. With his performance, Alonso picked up where he left off last season, extending his hitting streak to 14 straight games. He has also reached base safely in 49 consecutive contests, which spans his entire career at Delaware.

Kansas State, who is receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, got off to a quick start with four runs in the first two innings. Eventually, the Wildcats sustained their four-run advantage until Delaware hit its stride in the bottom of the seventh.

Josh Dean opened the Blue Hen rally with a ringing double to left field before Dave Anderson lined a single through the left side of the infield. Todd Menchaca chased home the first run of the frame with a groundout to first, while D.J. Long quickly followed with an RBI single to right center.

Trailing by only two, Delaware continued its attack after Long swiped second. With a runner in scoring position, Yates roped a sharp drive to shortstop that was mishandled and allowed Long to come around with the squad’s fifth and final run of the game.

The next inning, a lead-off double by Steve Ulaky looked promising, but the team’s designated hitter was eventually left stranded at second. Unfortunately, that was as close as Delaware would get before Kansas State pulled away with a five-run ninth, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Daniel Dellasega.

Ryan Daniel picked up the win for the Wildcats after allowing two runs in five innings of work. James Allen also earned the save after firing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Nick Young took the loss for Delaware after scattering four runs and five hits over his five innings of work. He also struck out seven in his first outing as a Blue Hen.

Early in the contest, after falling behind by four, the Hens slowly whittled away at their deficit in the middle innings. Delaware lit up the scoreboard for the first time in the fourth following a lead-off infield single by Yates. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, he came around to score on an RBI double by Ryan Cuneo.

Two innings later, after Kansas State answered with a single run in the sixth, UD fought back in the bottom of the frame. Alonso led off with a single to right, which chased Daniel from the game. One batter later, Yates greeted Thomas Rooke with a hot-shot back to the mound that the freshman rightfielder beat out for his second infield hit of the game.

Cuneo followed with a fly ball to center that allowed Alonso to advance to third before Pat Dameron notched an RBI ground out that brought the score to 5-2.

Although Delaware eventually continued its comeback bid with a three-spot in the seventh, the squad could never quite overcome its early deficit.

The game, which started at noon, not only served as Delaware’s season opener but also marked the opening to the NCAA season. On the first official gameday of the year, no other contest had an earlier start time.

Friday’s contest also marked the fifth time Delaware has squared off with a Big 12 opponent in program history. Overall, the Hens are 1-4 against the conference with their lone win coming against Iowa State in 1983. The squad had not faced a Big 12 team since a 2002 setback against Oklahoma State.