Ninth Inning Comeback Falls Short as Delaware Drops a 10-8 Decision To Georgia State in Final Game of Series
April 3, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
_lg.jpg)
• NEWARK, Del. - - A four run ninth inning wasn’t enough as the University of Delaware baseball team left the bases loaded in its final at-bat, and fell 10-8 in the final game of a three-game series to Colonial Athletic Association foe Georgia State at Bob Hannah Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Delaware (15-13, 8-4 CAA) got five hits in the ninth, but didn’t score their first run until there were two outs on the board. But Georgia State (22-8, 5-4 CAA) closer Jake Dyer got Alex Mottle to ground out to shortstop to end the ballgame as the Panthers salvaged the final game of the series.
Freshman EJ Stoltzfus (above right) went 4-for-5 and continued the ninth inning rally with a chopper over the head of the first baseman closing the gap to 10-7, keeping the inning alive. The lefty infielder finished with two RBI’s on the afternoon.
The Blue Hens fell behind the Panthers once again early in the game today, as Georgia State scored two runs each in the second and third innings. The Panthers scored three runs in the first inning on Friday before Delaware came back to tie it in the bottom of the inning. On Saturday, the Panthers scored three runs in the second, but couldn’t keep the Hens off the board as they put up two in the home half.
Today, the Blue Hens cut the lead in half in the second, but could not retaliate in the third following Georgia State’s second two run inning.
The Blue Hens got single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh before the four run outburst in the ninth. Hank Yates knocked in the team’s first run in the second on a sacrifice fly. Stoltzfus got his second hit of the day in the fourth with a single into left field, scoring Steve Ulaky. Dave Anderson came around to score in the fifth following Pat Dameron’s double and DJ Long led off the seventh with his first triple of the year, scoring on an infield single by Nick Ferdinand.
The team’s kept trading runs throughout as the Panthers scored two more in the fifth and single runs in the sixth and eighth to keep the Blue Hens at bay. Leading 8-4 heading into the ninth inning, it seemed as though the Panthers closed the door on game as they put another two runs on the board in quick fashion. Brandon Williams doubled off Michael O’Keeffe to start the inning, and Ryan Fleming hit a towering shot over the scoreboard in right for the two-run homerun, his team leading eighth of the season.
Delaware was down but not out heading into their last at-bat, and quickly gained momentum by getting the first two batters on base. Alex Mottle led of the ninth with a single, followed by Long singling through the right side. After a walk to Ferdinand loaded the bases with two outs, Yates hit a two run single, Stoltzfus singled in a run and Dylan Shupe knocked in a run to put the pressure on. Chris Branigan was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, but Dyer earned the save getting Mottle to ground out deep in the hole at short.
_lg.jpg)
Chad Kuhl took the loss for the Blue Hens, pitching the first four innings while giving up five runs on six hits. He struck out five batters, but fell to 1-2 on the season. Georgia State starter Justin Malone improves to 5-0 on the year, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Jeremy Gazerro was charged with the four runs in the ninth, before Dyer came in to earn his fifth save.
Yates (below right) led the Blue Hens with three RBI’s, going 1-for-4 on the day with a run scored. Long, Ferdinand, Stoltzfus and Shupe were the only Blue Hens to collect two or more hits, but they tallied 15 as a team.
The Blue Hens finish their seven game home stand 4-3, and will return to action on Tuesday, as they travel to Lehigh to play round two of the Liberty Bell Classic. The winner will take on the winner of Villanova/La Salle in the championship held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. First pitch on Tuesday is slated for 3 p.m.
AGATE:
Georgia State… 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 2 – 10 13 1
Delaware….…. 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 4 – 8 15 2
E – Condotta (17); Long (7); Shupe (2). DP – Delaware 1. LOB – Georgia State 7; Delaware 10. 2B – Micowski (11); Mawell (13); Williams 2 (7);Sacket 2 (6); Dameron (9); Ferdinand (3); Anderson (3). 3B – Condotta (1); Long (1). HR – Fleming (8). HBP – Condotta; Branigan. SH – Asher (2). SF – Micowski (3); Yates (3). SB – Micowski (8); Lind (8); Williams (8) Condotta 2 (10).
Win – Justin Malone (5-0). Loss – Chad Kuhl (1-2). Save – Jake Dyer (5).
Back To Baseball Home Baseball Story Archive
