Two Run Double in Bottom of the Ninth Ruins Blue Hens Baseball Come-Back Bid at UNCG, 10-9
February 19, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Boxscore
GREENSBORO, N.C. - - The University of Delaware baseball team could not hang on to a one run, ninth inning lead as UNC Greensboro stole one away on their home field with two runs in the ninth, winning 10-9 on Saturday afternoon.
Blue Hen (0-2) closer Matt Harden could only record one out in the ninth before giving up the game-winning, two-run double to Chris Barker. The Blue Hens fought back in the eighth to take a 9-8 lead with four runs of their own in the inning.
Senior first baseman Steve Ulaky (at right) led the Blue Hens with three hits, scoring a run and knocking in one run. First year transfer Logan Gallagher went 2 for 5, driving in three runs for the Blue Hens who totaled 12 hits. Delaware again outhit the UNCG (2-0), 12-11, but fell short once again in the opening series of the 2011 campaign.
The Blue Hens took the early 1-0 lead in the in top of the second inning as a one out Dylan Shupe single loaded the bases. Dave Anderson knocked in his first run of the season with a single through the ride side of the infield. But the Blue Hens could not capitalize anymore with the bases loaded, as they stranded the three runners, scoring the loan run.
But Delaware starter Eric Young could not put a zero on the board in the bottom half of the inning as the Spartans retaliated with two runs of their own. With one out and a runner on first, Cambric Moye doubled to deep right center field, scoring Eric Brindle as he raced home. Now with two outs, and Moye on third, Barker hit the same gap, easily allowing Moye to score.
After two scoreless innings, the Blue Hens bounced back and tallied three runs in the fifth, again taking the lead. Senior captains Pat Dameron and Steve Ulaky started the inning with back-to-back singles, putting a runner in scoring position with no outs. But after back-to-back fly outs and a walk, it looked as though the Blue Hens would not find the clutch hit once again. But junior transfer Logan Gallagher roped a double down the left field line, scoring all three runners before being thrown out at third.
Again looking for a scoreless bottom half of the inning, reliever Nick Young was unable to keep the momentum for the offense, as he allowed two runs, tying the score for UNCG, 4-4.
The Blue Hens took the lead in the sixth, with no help from the bats, as Shupe walked, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch.
It was the last third of the game that decided the outcome however, as the Blue Hens found themselves down three heading into the top of the eighth. The Spartans pounced on Eric Buckland in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs, with two triples in the inning. But that outburst by the home squad did not seem to faze the Blue Hens, as they bounced right back in the top of the eighth to regain the lead.
With UNCG's third pitcher, Dylan Hatchcock on the mound, the Delaware attack started with one out and no one on base. Anderson worked a walk before DJ Long belted a double to center field, putting runners on second and third. Anderson crossed home plate following a Dameron single, cutting the deficit to 8-6. Ulaky followed that hit with a single of his own, scoring Long from second. Now with two outs and runners at the corner, sophomore Hank Yates singled into left field, scoring Dameron for the tying run. Pinch hitter Alex Mottle, who pinch hit and reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch, giving the Blue Hens the lead with three outs remaining.
But Blue Hen closer Matt Harden could only record one out in the ninth, as Barker knocked in the tying, and walk off runs with a double to right center field. Drew Gehringer scored from first base giving the Spartans the victory.
Delaware will try to salvage the series down in the North Carolina as the two teams square off for the third and final time on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 1 p.m. Junior left-handed pitcher Devon Pearson gets the nod on the hill for the Blue Hens.
AGATE:
Delaware………. 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 4 0 – 9 12 1
UNCG……...…..0 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 2 – 10 11 0
E – Shupe. DP – UNCG 1. LOB – Delaware 9; UNCG 11. 2B – Long; Gallagher; Barker 2; Moye. 3B – Brindle; Gehringer. HBP – Barker; Brindle. SH – Hein. SF – Edwards; Crump. SB – Barker.
Win – Hollstegge (1-0). Loss – Harden (0-1). Save – None.
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