Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -The University of Delaware baseball team capitalized on a strong pitching performance by Matt Soren and another excellent showing by its potent lineup as the Blue Hens ran away with a 13-0 victory over Temple during a non-conference showdown at an overcast Bob Hannah Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Soren (top right) tossed a career-high six innings of shutout ball. He also struck out nine and scattered just two hits to collect his first career victory.

He was backed by an offensive onslaught that collected 13 runs on 16 hits. Pat Dameron (bottom right) led the way with a 4-for-4 performance including a home run and two doubles. Ryan Cuneo and Carlos Alonso also added three hits and a home run, while D.J. Long extended his hitting streak to 30 games with a single in the third.

Delaware (20-15) struck early and often against Temple (5-17), highlighted by a three-run first. During the opening rally, Alonso led off with a double to left center before Cuneo drove him in with his own two-base hit. Later, Dean notched an RBI single before Dameron punched a solo shot to right center.

After a scoreless second, Delaware fired back-to-back two-spots on the board in the third and fourth. Cuneo crushed his second home run in as many days with a two-run shot to center in the third before Alonso launched a two-run blast in the fourth.

With a 7-0 lead, the Hens refused to let up. In the fifth, Dameron ripped a double to left center that chased in Dean. The next inning, Delaware collected three straight singles to kick off a five-run rally.

After Alonso knocked in the first run of the frame, Cuneo ripped an RBI single to right. Following a walk to Dean, Dameron knocked in two more with a base hit to center. Then, Matt Greco capped the inning nicely with a pinch-hit single to left that catapulted the Hens to a 13-0 advantage.

While the Delaware lineup continued to pummel its opposition, Soren dominated on the mound. The freshman right-hander faced the minimum in the second, fifth, and sixth. He also punched out the side in the fourth.

After the bullpen took over in the seventh, the Blue Hen relief effort did not miss a beat. Michael O’Keeffe struck out two in a scoreless seventh, Matt Harden retired the side in order in the eighth, and Nick Stampone closed out the game with a pair of punch-outs in the ninth.

Overall, the Delaware pitching staff allowed just three hits and struck out 13. Tyler Horst (1-3) took the loss for Temple after surrendering five runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings of work.

The Blue Hens will be back in action on Friday at 3 p.m. when the team travels to George Mason for a three-game series.