Delaware Baseball Downs William & Mary, 6-2; Doubleheader Set For Saturday at 12 noon
March 25, 2011
Game Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• NEWARK, Del. - - Junior transfer Eric Young (above right) got the University of Delaware baseball team another important Colonial Athletic Association victory, as he stymied the William & Mary bats into the seventh inning as the Blue Hens won 6-2 in game one at Bob Hannah Stadium on Friday afternoon.
What was supposed to be game three on Sunday has been moved to be a part of a doubleheader on Saturday, due to the inclement weather that is expected in the area Sunday afternoon. Delaware and William & Mary will now start the first of two nine-inning games on Saturday at 12 noon.
Delaware (12-10, 6-1 CAA) jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first three innings, allowing Young to settle in and pound the strikezone.
“Its always easier to pitch with a lead,” the transfer from first-year transfer from Riverside Community College said after the game. “It gives you more confidence and a little more pep in your step when you get out on the mound.“
Senior first baseman Steve Ulkay (below right) stayed red hot after hitting three homeruns on Tuesday against Delaware State. He stepped to the plate in the first inning two outs and the bases empty, and deposited a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right center field. That was his third consecutive at-bat with a homerun, as he hit two in the eighth inning on Tuesday. He led the offense today with two runs batted in.
The Blue Hens added to their lead with a four spot in the third off William & Mary (11-14, 5-5 CAA) starter Matt Davenport. The Blue Hens loaded the bases before recording an out, and scored their first run off a Pat Dameron single up the middle. Ulaky worked a full count walk to force in the second run of the inning in the next at-bat. Catcher Aaron Mascoe hit a high pop-up towards second that got caught in the wind, and fell behind the outreached arms of Jonathan Slattery, allowing DJ Long to score. Hank Yates knocked in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to move the score to 5-0.
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The Tribe pushed two runs across in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally, but did not rattle Young as he came back to stop the bleeding.
Getting the first two batters of the inning on a ground out and a fly out, Young was looking for the easy one-two-three inning. But William & Mary had different ideas as three straight Tribe singles loaded the bases. It looked as though the Hens would escape the rally with no damage, but a sharp ground ball made its way through the legs of Long at second allowing two runs to score. But Young settled after the error, and induced a pop up to get out of the inning.
Delaware capped the scoring for the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Dave Anderson walked with two outs and the bases empty to get things rolling. Long stepped in and hit the first pitch he saw to the alley in right center, chasing Anderson home from first as he went standing up into second.
Young and reliever Jeff Murray took it from there, as both pitchers combined to only allow one hit for the rest of the contest. Young made a conscience effort to work the inside half of the plate, and saw a difference with one of his best outings of the season.
“If I can get inside on these guys, its easier for me to throw my secondary stuff away,” Young said of his game plan. “I was trying to fill it up with the fastball. The games before I was leaving the fastball over the plate. I was really trying to get inside on these guys and make quality pitches. Getting deeper into the game was the big thing for me this week.”
Young pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) on four hits while striking out three Tribe batters. Murray came on and pitched the final 2.1 innings, not allowing a hit while striking out three batters.
Davenport pitched all eight innings for the Tribe, allowing six runs on five hits. He struck out seven batters, but allowed four free bases on three walks and hitting a batter.
Again, the game time for Saturday has been changed to 12 noon, with the second game of the doubleheader to start shortly following the conclusion of game one. Delaware will sent freshmen Danny Gatto and Chad Kuhl to start each game, looking for its third straight series victory.
AGATE:
William & Mary….. 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 4 0
Delaware……….… 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 X – 6 5 2
E – Long (5); Anderson (3). LOB – William & Mary 8; Delaware 2. 2B – Long (9). HR – Ulaky (5). HBP – Nutter; Anderson. SH – Gean (1). SF – Yates (1). CS – Mottle (2).
Win – Eric Young (2-2). Loss – Matt Davenport (2-3). Save – None.
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