Blue Hens Plate Seven Runs in First Two Frames, Cruise to Fourth Straight Win, 9-3, Over Quinnipiac
March 15, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
_lg.jpg)
• Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - - The University of Delaware baseball team scored seven runs in the first two innings and the bullpen continued to pitch well down the stretch, as the Blue Hens stretched their winning streak to four games with a 9-3 win over visiting Quinnipiac at Bob Hannah Stadium on Tuesday.
Nick Ferdinand paced Delaware (7-9 overall) offensively, hitting his first homerun of the season, and added a double to deep left field, knocking in three RBI’s as we as scoring a pair himself. It was the first homerun from the right side of the plate this season for Delaware, and head coach Jim Sherman’s could use that balance.
“Nick gives up more of an added dimension,” Sherman said when talking about his power-hitting lefthanders Steve Ulaky and Pat Dameron. “He’s a strong kid and has an opportunity to play with Chris Branigan sidelined with a bad hamstring. He’s worked hard; he deserves an opportunity to play. We have him geared more towards left handed pitchers, but he’s getting more of an opportunity as Branigan recovers.”
The Blue Hens sent 10 batters to the plate in the first innings, producing four early runs off Quinnipiac (4-3 overall) starter Kevin Castodio. The home team recorded four hits and earned three free bases off of walks. DJ Long, Ulaky, Aaron Mascoe, and Logan Gallagher all registered singles during the inning, with Mascoe and Gallagher’s bringing in a run. Dave Angebranndt also had an RBI, as he walked with the bases loaded to force in Mascoe.
Delaware extended the score with a three run second inning. Dameron walked for the second time in as many innings, and Ulaky moved him to second with his second single to right field. After Castodio got Mascoe and Hank Yates to strike out, Ferdinand hit a clutch two-out double to left field, scoring both Dameron and Ulaky. Ferdinand laced the ball to the front of the warning track in left, as the leftfielder got turned around one too many times and couldn’t come up with the tough catch. Gallagher followed suit with a single through the left side, allowing Ferdinand to trot home safely.
Ferdinand’s day wasn’t complete however, as he led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo blast, keeping it inside the left field foul pole for his first homerun of the season.
The eight runs were more than enough for starter Matt Soren and Nick Young, who came on in relief to pitch the final four innings. Soren pitched through the fifth inning, giving up three runs on seven hits to earn his first victory of the season. Nick Young came on in relief pitching the final four innings without giving up a run, extending a string of excellent outings from the bullpen. During the four game win streak, the bullpen has pitched 21.2 innings while only giving up four runs (two earned).
“Matt Soren hasn’t had too many opportunities this year and this was a great midweek opportunity for him,” Sherman said after the game. “I thought Matty matched up pretty well with Quinnipiac. We had a pitch count on him after five innings. We would have liked to see him pitch another inning, but he was up in his pitch count.”
Young earned the save in the ballgame, pitching more than three innings of effective baseball. He gave up one hit and one walk, while striking out three Bobcats.
“Nick came in and did a good job,” continued Sherman. “He started throwing the ball inside more the last couple innings. It’s good when you only have to use two guys.”
Ulaky, Ferdinand and Gallagher all finished with two hits, while Dameron went 1-for-1 with four walks, extending his hitting streak to 11 straight games.
The Blue Hens will host the Route 1 Rivalry tomorrow, Wednesday, as Delaware State University comes to Bob Hannah Stadium for a 3 p.m. start.
AGATE:
Quinnipiac….. 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 – 3 8 3
Delaware….... 4 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 X – 9 10 0
E – Amanti (2); Poletsky (3); Nisson (3). DP – Delaware 2. LOB – Quinnipiac 8; Delaware 11. 2B – Ferdinand (1). HR – Ferdinand (1). SF – Ulaky (2). SB – Farina (4); Long (1).
Win – Matt Soren (1-0). Loss – Kevin Castodio (0-1). Save – Nick Young (1).
Back To Baseball Home Baseball Story Archive
