Blue Hens Belt 11 Hits But Drops Season Opener, 7-3, to UNC Greensboro
February 18, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Boxscore
GREENSBORO, N.C. - - For seeing a live pitcher for the first time this spring from a on a mound and in a stadium, the University of Delaware baseball team finished with 11 hits, but could not find the crucial one, as the Blue Hens lost the 2011 season opener to UNC Greensboro, 7-3, on Friday afternoon.
The game came down to one inning as Blue Hen starter Jeff Murray could not gather the last out and the Spartans scored six runs (one earned) in the fourth to open the lead and hold on for the victory.
Today marked the return of junior right-handed pitcher Corey Crispell (at right), as he sat out all of last season. He came into relief in the fourth to record the last out, and continued to pitch the rest of the game, totaling 4.1 innings in all. He only allowed one run on two hits, while striking out six Spartan batters.
Offensively, leadoff hitter DJ Long was able to set the table nicely for the Blue Hens, tallying three hits and scoring two runs. Steve Ulaky also finished with three hits, two going for doubles, but it was not enough as the Hens could only scratch three runs across the board.
Delaware (0-1) got on top first, scoring a single run in the third inning to take their only lead of the afternoon. Long started the inning off with a single through the left side. With one out, he advanced to third following Ulaky’s first double, which went to left center, and it looked like the Blue Hens were in business. But just as it went all game, Delaware could not get the desired hit with multiple runners on base, as newcomer Jimmy Yezzo grounded out to second for his first RBI in his career.
Murray found himself in trouble quickly in the fourth as the first three batters reached base. Ray Quinones led off with a double before advancing to third on an error by Long off the bat of Lloyd Enzor. Zach Leach stepped in and hit a single back up the middle, scoring the Spartans first run. After a walk loaded the bases, a one out sac fly scored Enzor, Murray looked to be in good shape.
With two outs, Matt Crump singled just out of the reach of shortstop Dave Anderson, scoring the third run. Drew Gerhringer quickly doubled the score, as he hit a shot over the left field wall, putting the score at 6-1. After back-to-back single, Crispell relieved Murray and induced Enzor to pop up to second to end the inning.
Delaware started to mount a comeback the next half inning, as Long walked to lead off, and scored all the way from first on a Pat Dameron double to right center. But a ground out and back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat before it went any farther.
The only hiccup for Crispell came in the seventh as Quinones tripled with one out. After a walk and a foul out, Bobby Martin singled home Quinones before Crispell recorded another strikeout to end the inning.
The Blue Hens made the ninth inning interesting, as they loaded the bases with three singles and one out. But again, the bases stayed loaded as Yezzo struck out to bring the Spartans (1-0) one out away from the win. Pinch hitter Alex Mottle worked a walk to score Anderson, but Chris Branigan grounded out to second to end the ballgame.
The Blue Hens finished with three doubles, as catcher Aaron Mascoe also blasted a two bagger to add to Ulaky’s two and Dameron’s extra base hit. Murray pitched 3.2 innings, giving up seven hits and the six runs, taking the loss. Warren Slack pitched five innings of seven hit ball to earn the win. He gave up two runs while striking out five batters.
Delaware will try to earn their first victory of the season tomorrow at 1 p.m., as they play the second of a three game series against UNCG. First-year transfer Eric Young will get the ball to start for the Blue Hens.
AGATE:
Delaware..........0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 – 3 11 1
UNCG .............0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 X – 7 9 0
E – Long. DP – Delaware 1; UNCG 1. LOB – Delaware 12; UNCG 6. 2B – Dameron; Ulaky 2; Mascoe; Quinones. 3B – Quinones. HR – Gehringer. HBP – Dameron; Mascoe; Leach; Barker. SH – Troelstrup. SF – Richards. SB – Branigan.
Win – Slack (1-0). Loss – Murray (0-1). Save – None.
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