Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Senior centerfielder Josh Dean clocked two home runs as he helped lead the University of Delaware baseball team to a convincing 13-4 victory over Towson during a Colonial Athletic Association battle at Bob Hannah Stadium on a windy Saturday afternoon.

Dean (at right) finished the day 3-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored for Delaware (18-14, 3-5). He was aided in his efforts by Pat Dameron, who roped four hits and scored three times. Carlos Alonso also went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI after hitting for the cycle in yesterday’s game.

Freshman second baseman D.J. Long also tallied a single to extend his hitting streak to 27 games. That roll is the second longest active streak in the nation and tied for the fourth longest in program history.

Towson (10-26, 5-9) got out of the gate quickly with a run in the top of the first following a triple by Nick Natoli and a sacrifice fly by Kevin Collins. Delaware wasted little time responding, though, as Long drew a walk, moved to third on a single by Dameron, and scored on a hit by Dean in the bottom of the inning.

Despite the early runs and constant gusts of wind, both pitchers settled in and quieted the offenses in the early innings. Towson starter Mike Bronakoski struck out four during two spotless frames in the second and third, while Michael Londino worked four scoreless innings from the second through the fifth.

With the game still knotted at one in the bottom of the fourth, Delaware took its first lead of the day when Dameron singled and Dean crushed a huge blast off the batter’s eye in dead centerfield. Later, after Dave Anderson was hit by a pitch, Matt Greco launched an RBI double into left center that gave the squad a 4-1 advantage.

Needing some insurance runs, the Hens quickly padded their lead in the fifth. Alonso and Long started the inning with back-to-back singles before Dameron punched an RBI hit to right. Then, following a pitching change and a walk to Dean that loaded the bases, Steve Ulaky hit a high-chopper between the mound and first base that found open spaces and allowed Long to score.

With two runs already in, Delaware continued the rally after plating another run on a wild pitch before Greco hit a sinking liner to right that allowed Dean to score the squad’s fourth run of the inning and eighth of the game.

Trailing by seven at 8-1, Towson tacked two quick runs on the board in the sixth on RBI hits by Chris Wychock and Steve Rice. Despite the minor shift in momentum, however, the potent Hen attack picked up right where it left off with another four-run rally in the bottom of the inning.

Ryan Cuneo started the surge with an RBI single to left before Dameron laced a double just inside the rightfield line. With two runners on, Dean cleared the bases with a tremendous opposite-field shot to right center that secured a 12-3 lead for Delaware.

For good measure, the Hens eventually tossed one more run on the board in the seventh on an RBI double by Alonso that brought in Menchaca and gave the squad a double-digit advantage.

With the bats doing most of the work, Anderson flashed some leather in the field during a Towson rally in the eighth. After the Tigers had a little threat going with a pair of runners on and only one out, Steve Rice smacked a ball back up the middle. Anderson quickly charged in, scooped up the roller, and made a perfect glove-hand flip to Long at second who fired to first for a beautiful 6-4-3 double play.

Although Towson plated a run in the ninth, Delaware reliever Devon Pearson eventually closed out the victory. He earned his third save of the season after striking out four over 3.2 solid innings out of the bullpen. Londino (5-3) picked up the win after scattering three runs on three hits in 5.1 innings of work.

Mike Bronakoski (2-2) took the loss despite striking out seven during his time on the mound. He eventually surrendered the first seven runs of the game on nine hits in 4.1 innings.

The two teams will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.