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Anderson’s Three Home Runs Ties Delaware Record; Blue Hens Defeat Towson 16-7 in Slugfest

April 15, 2011

File Photos courtesy of Mark Campbell

TOWSON, Md. - - Dave Anderson etched his name in the University of Delaware baseball record books, becoming the 20th player in University of Delaware baseball history to hit three home runs in a game, as the Blue Hens won in a slugfest, 16-7, over Towson, staying in first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, Friday afternoon at John B. Schuerholz Park.

Delaware (19-14, 11-5 CAA) used six home runs throughout the course of the game, coming from behind to beat Towson (13-19-1, 7-9 CAA) in the first game of a three game series. DJ Long, Steve Ulaky and Nick Ferdinand also homered on the afternoon.

Due to the threat of incoming weather, Saturday’s game has been moved to an 11 a.m. start to beat the inclement forecast.

Trailing 6-5 after the fifth inning, Delaware put back-to-back five run innings together to take command and eventually turn it into a blowout. The seventh inning saw three home runs by itself, allowing the Blue Hens to separate themselves and secure their spot a top the CAA standings.

Anderson (above right), who came into the ballgame without hitting a home run this season, led off the seventh inning with his second of the game. His home run gave the Blue Hens an 11-6 lead, but only started the five-run rally for the inning. Three batters later, Ulaky smacked a homer to right field for his team leading eighth of the year. His shot was a two-run blast, scoring Pat Dameron. Ferdinand stepped in directly after Ulaky, and sent an 0-2 pitch over the fence in let for a solo shot, his fourth of the season. Hank Yates closed out the scoring on the inning as he scored following an error by the third baseman on an Aaron Mascoe ground ball.

Anderson got the Blue Hens into the ballgame with his first home run of the season in the fourth, helping the Blue Hens take the lead for the first time for the game.

After Mascoe singled and Logan Gallagher walked with one out, Anderson blasted a full-count pitch over the left center wall for the three-run home run. Long made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot three pitches later. It was Long’s second home run of the season.

Anderson made it a trifecta in the eighth inning, leading off the inning with a homerun in to left field. His third home run of the game came off Chris Acker, marking it the third Tiger pitcher Anderson homered off of for the game. He joins teammates Ulaky and Dameron on the all-time list of Blue Hens who have hit three home runs in one game. Ulaky accomplished the feat earlier this season against Delaware State, while Dameron hit three last season on May 8, against Hofstra.

Eric Young started the game on the mound for the Blue Hens but only lasted four innings, allowing six runs on six hits. He struck out four batters on the afternoon. Matt Soren came on in relief and moves to 3-0 on the season as he picked up the win while pitching three innings, striking out six while only allowing one run on three hits. Devon Pearson and Corey Crispell pitched the final two innings for the visitors and did not allow a hit to close out the contest.

Spencer Patton was saddled with the loss for Towson, pitching two thirds of an inning while giving up four runs (zero earned). He walked three batters and gave up two hits, falling to 1-3 on the season.

Anderson also added a double on the afternoon, keeping one inside the left field line in the second to start his 4-for-4 afternoon. Anderson set career highs with the four hits, but also knocking in five RBI’s, and scoring four runs. Dameron (below right) finished 3-for-5 with two RBI’s and two runs while Long and Ferdinand also had two hits a piece for the Blue Hens.

The 16 runs were the most by the Blue Hens this season, as they tied a season high with 16 hits. The six home runs also set a new season high, as the Blue Hens enjoyed their most productive offensive outing of the season.

Towson also hit two home runs on the afternoon, as Austin Harclerode and Dominic Fratantuono hit one each to keep the Tigers in the ballgame early one. Harclerode homered in the third to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead, while Fratantuono hit a solo shot in the fourth to tie the ballgame.

Again, game two of the series has been moved to Saturday morning at 11 a.m. If the game is to be postponed, Towson will host a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at noon. CAA Sunday doubleheaders are played as one seven inning contest, followed by a nine inning game.

AGATE:

Delaware… 1 0 0 4 0 5 5 1 0 – 16 16 0
Towson..… 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 – 7 9 3

E – Wychock 2 (7); Harclerode (5). DP – Towson 3. LOB – Delaware 9; Towson 5. 2B – Long (12); Dameron 2 (12); Yates (3); Anderson (4); Natoli (11). 3B – Ferdinand (3). HR – Long (2); Ulaky (8); Ferdinand (4); Anderson 3 (3); Harclerode (3); Fratantuono (1). HBP – Ulaky; Wychock; Parker CS – Ferdinand (2); Fitzgerald (3); Parker (5).

Win – Soren (3-0). Loss – Patton (1-3). Save – None.

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