Delaware Posts Three-Hit Shutout Over Lehigh 5-0; Win Sends Hens Back to Liberty Bell Classic Championship
April 6, 2011
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File Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - - University of Delaware baseball head coach Jim Sherman used three pitchers in picking up the team’s first shutout of the season, 5-0 over Lehigh in the second round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Goodman Campus Tuesday afternoon.
Matt Soren (above right) started the contest and pitched the first 5.1 innings, striking out seven batters while only allowing two hits to pick up his second win of the season. Corey Crispell relieved Soren in the sixth and pitched the next 2.2 innings of hitless baseball, striking out one Mountain Hawk along the way. Lefthander Jeff Murray threw the final inning, allowing a hit but striking out the side to finish off the contest.
Delaware (16-13) will now look to defend its 2010 Liberty Bell Classic Championship as the Hens take on the other semifinal winner Villanova on Tuesday, April 12 at the Philadelphia Phillies home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park, at 7:30 p.m.
The Blue Hens got on the board in the fourth inning, and that single run was more than enough for the pitching staff today. Pat Dameron (below right) led off with a single, his first of four hits on the day. Steve Ulaky doubled deep to center field, chasing Dameron home from first. The Hens loaded the bases from there with no outs, but were unable to scratch another run across as the Mountain Hawks (16-12) got out of the inning with a strikeout and a double play.
Delaware added a run in the fifth, as the bottom of the order set the table for the RBI hitters. Dave Anderson singled to the shortstop with one out to start rally. DJ Long followed with a single into centerfield putting Anderson 90 feet away at third base. Dameron hit his second single of the night, knocking in Anderson for his first RBI of the game.
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As Crispell continued to shut down the home team in the later innings of the game and with the game still in doubt at only 2-0, the Blue Hens put the offense in gear and gave the staff three more insurance runs in the ninth. With one out, Long and Dameron smacked back-to-back doubles for the first run of the inning. Now with runners at first and third and two outs, Hank Yates singled to center for the RBI and the 4-0 lead. CAA Co-Rookie of the Week EJ Stoltzfus remained red hot, as he added a third hit to his afternoon with an RBI single to left field.
Murray came into the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the first two batters before giving up a single to Kevin Mihalik. Murrary didn’t allow him to move past first, however, as he struck out Austin Borden to end the ballgame.
Dameron finished 4-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBI’s to pace the offense. Long and Stoltzfus each went 3-for-5 on the afternoon as the Blue Hens banged out 14 hits as a team.
Soren gave up lone singles in the fifth and the sixth before the Mountain Hawks final hit in the ninth off Murray. Logan Winchester collected a hit off Soren as Mihalik went 2-for-4 on the day for the home team.
Prior to the final of the Liberty Bell Classic, the Blue Hens return to Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend, as they travel to UNC Wilmington for another battle for first place in the standings. The two teams will play a three game series, starting with at 6 p.m. on Friday night.
AGATE:
Delaware… 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 – 5 14 0
Lehigh….... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 3 0
DP – Lehigh 1. LOB – Delaware 11; Lehigh 5. 2B – Long (11); Dameron (10); Ulaky (11); Stoltzfus (1). HBP – Mottle; Pifer; Wiand.
Win – Matt Soren (2-0). Loss – Cameron Phillips (1-1). Save – None.
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