Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Game No. 1 Boxscore

Game No. 2 Boxscore

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Delaware baseball team scored in every inning during the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader on the way to an impressive 17-3 victory over Maryland in the opener before falling to the Terrapins, 10-6, in the nightcap during non-conference action at Shipley Field.

Junior Pat Dameron (at right) finished the day 5-for-8 with a pair of solo shots and four runs scored. Carlos Alonso also ripped six hits during the twin bill to extend his career-long hitting streak to 18 games dating back to last season. He has also recorded at least two hits in every contest this year.

Freshman Hank Yates also had a strong day at the plate for Delaware (1-4), notching five hits in nine at bats. Fellow first-year standout D.J. Long had an excellent opener as well, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.

In the early going of the first game, the Hens posted three quick runs in the first two innings on RBI doubles by Yates and Long as well as a sacrifice fly from Ryan Cuneo. With an early advantage, the squad quickly pulled away with a five-run outburst in the third inning.

Following a lead-off single by Cuneo and a double from Dameron, Josh Dean knocked in the first run of the frame after lining a single through the right side of the infield. Dave Anderson followed with an RBI single of his own before Long unloaded on a Brett Harman offering for a three-run blast.

Staring at an eight-run deficit in the third, Maryland (1-4) posted a minor response. After Blue Hen ace Brian Rorick escaped two scares in the first two innings, the senior righty could not avoid damage in the third. The Terrapins drew two walks and executed a double-steal before a wild pitch and pick-off throw allowed both runners to score.

Unfazed and undeterred, Delaware quickly went back on the attack. Dameron launched his first home run of the game in the fourth before Yates smacked an RBI single to center in the fifth. Up by eight again, the Hens remained on the attack as Dameron and Dean both popped solo shots in the sixth.

Leading by double-digits at 12-2, the Blue Hens momentarily lost that advantage after Maryland plated one run in the bottom of the sixth. The next inning, Delaware regained its edge after collecting back-to-back singles by Alonso and Yates before Dameron laced an RBI base hit to left.

With the game already in hand, Delaware wrapped up its onslaught with one run each in the eighth and ninth. Alonso ripped a double down the right field line that brought home Long in the eighth before Chris Branigan slammed a pinch hit solo home run in the top of the ninth.

Alonso finished the game with four hits, including three doubles. Yates also had three hits and a pair of RBI during the game, while Cuneo, Dean, and Anderson all posted two hits for the Hens.

Rorick (1-1) picked up the win after scattering four hits and three runs while striking out six over six innings of work. Devon Pearson earned the save after whiffing four in his three innings on the mound.

Harman (0-2) took the loss after surrendering 10 runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Delaware’s offensive outburst quickly carried over into the first inning of the nightcap as the squad slapped three runs on the board. Alonso led off the game with a solo shot down the left field line. Three batters later, Dameron continued the rally after getting plunked by a pitch before Dean launched his second home run of the day.

Refusing to fall behind as far as they did in the opener, the Terrapins answered in the bottom of the inning when David Poutier smacked a lead-off home run of his own.

After scoring 20 runs in the first 10 innings of the twin bill, the Delaware lineup was due for a dry spell. Following a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, the squad put at least one runner on base in each of the next three frames but was unable to capitalize on any of those opportunities.

With the Hens idling, Maryland put another run on the board after Mike Rozak led off the third with a double and scored on a wild pitch. The team looked primed for a larger inning after putting runners on first and second, but the Terrapins lead runner was eventually gunned down at the plate by shortstop Dave Anderson after trying to score on a single by Matt Marquis.

Two innings later, Maryland capitalized on its newfound momentum to take the lead with a four-run fifth. Brandon Padula posted an RBI single before Adam Kolarek and Marquis notched back-to-back blasts to secure a 7-3 advantage.

With their first lead of the day, the Terrapins never looked back. In the bottom of the seventh, the squad extended their lead to 11-3 with another four-run frame highlighted by a two-run double from Kolarek and RBIs by Jack Cleary and Rozak.

Staring at a nearly insurmountable deficit, the Blue Hens continued to fight until the end. In the eighth, Dameron worked a lead off walk before Steve Ulaky pounded a two-run bomb to center. Then, in the squad’s final trip to the plate, Delaware tacked one more on the board after Alonso was hit by a pitch, moved to second on an error, and scored when Dameron ripped an RBI double.

Nick Young (0-2) took the loss after surrendering six runs in five innings of work. Ian Schwalenberg (1-0) picked up the victory after tossing 3.1 innings out of the bullpen.