Blue Hens Cannot Complete Sweep, Fall to UNC Wilmington, 5-1, in the CAA Series Finale
April 10, 2011
File Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Boxscore
WILMINGTON, N.C. - - Andrew Cain’s three run home run ruined a chance for the University of Delaware baseball team to complete the three game sweep over UNC Wilmington as the Blue Hen bats were silenced, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon at Brooks Field.
The Blue Hens (18-14, 10-5 CAA) took the lead in the third inning, but couldn’t hold on as the Seahawks (16-14, 7-5 CAA) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth before Cain’s blast in the sixth.
Freshman Chad Kuhl (above right) was solid through the first five innings, regaining his confidence after being knocked out in the fifth inning of his last start. He ran into trouble in the sixth inning in this start, however, making a valuable mistake to Cain with two runners on base with two outs. He struck out five Seahawks in 5.2 innings of work, allowing five runs on six hits, but fell to 1-2 on the season with the loss.
The bullpen backed Kuhl, keeping the Blue Hens in the ball game throughout the rest of the contest. Eric Buckland pitched an inning and a third, only allowing one base hit to the five batters he faced. Devon Pearson, making his first appearance since March 19, pitched a hitless eighth inning, striking out one batter.
But UNC Wilmington starter Tyler McSwain silenced the Delaware bats after allowing a lone run in third, as his complete game seven hitter moved him to 2-3 on the year, and salvaged the series for the Seahawks. He struck out five Blue Hens while only allowing one walk.
The Blue Hens grabbed the lead in the third, as they looked to sweep the Seahawks, voted to finish fourth in the preseason CAA Coaches Poll, on their home field. With one out and the bases empty, Aaron Mascoe (below right) was hit by a pitch, and took stole second base to reach scoring position. Two batters later, yesterday’s hero DJ Long came through again with a single into right center, scoring Mascoe.
Still leading 1-0 in the fourth, and Kuhl on cruise control, the Seahawks rallied and quickly tied the score on a pair of doubles in the inning, the RBI coming off the bat of David Shambley with two outs.
Again in the fifth, UNC Wilmington quickly scored without much damage on the base paths, as Alex Hill knocked his fifth homerun, a solo shot down the right field line to take the lead for good.
Hill’s homerun was after the top of the fifth where the Blue Hens had the bases loaded with two outs, but were unable to scratch a run across the board as Steve Ulaky grounded out to second base to end the threat.
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An inning later is when the Seahawks grabbed control of the contest. Kuhl was looking as if he was going to get out of the inning easily, getting the first two batters out before the home team took advantage of what was given to them. Thomas Pope was hit by a pitch, and Shambley walked on a full count to send Cain to the plate. He delivered on a 1-0 pitch, sending it over the fence in center.
From there, the Blue Hens managed a hit in each of the final three frames, but couldn’t get anything together to make a run.
The teams matched each other with seven hits, as Nick Ferdinand and Mascoe paced the Blue Hens by recording two hits each. Hunter Ridge and Cain finished with two hits a piece for the Seahawks.
Delaware remains in first place in the CAA, winning the series against the Seahawks. The Blue Hens received some help from Georgia State as well, as the Panthers took two of three this weekend against James Madison.
The Blue Hens have two nonconference matchups this week, first playing Villanova at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday in the final of the Liberty Bell Classic at 7:30 p.m.
AGATE:
Delaware……….… 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 7 0
UNC Wilmington… 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 X – 5 7 0
DP – UNCW 1. LOB – Delaware 8; UNCW 4. 2B – Ferdinand (4); Ridge (6); Shambley (3). HR – Hill (5); Cain (2). HBP – Mascoe, Hill, Pope. SH – Anderson (6); Cockman (3). SB – Yates (1); Mascoe (1). CS – Pope (3).
Win – Tyler McSwain (2-3). Loss – Chad Kuhl (1-2). Save – None.
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