Old Dominion Silences Delaware’s Bats En Route to a 6-2 CAA Victory
May 7, 2011
Photos Courtesy of Chris Mlynarczyk_lg.jpg)
• Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. -- A four-run third inning proved to be the difference at Bob Hannah Stadium as the University of Delaware baseball team wasted a good relief effort by Devon Pearson, dropping its second game in a row to Old Dominion, 6-2, on Saturday afternoon.
Danny Gatto got the start for Delaware (26-21, 15-11 CAA) but could not make it out of the third inning as the big blow came off the bat of Joey Burney. With runners on first and third and already one run across, Burney turned on a down and in pitch, and barely kept it inside the right field foul pole for a three-run shot.
Pearson (above right) came on for Matt Soren in the fourth and continued to dominate the rest of the afternoon. Old Dominion (23-20, 15-8) could only muster five hits while Pearson was on the mound for a stretch of 5.1 innings. Pearson did not allow a walk while striking out five Monarch batters.
The bats remained silent for most of the afternoon for the Blue Hens as they squeezed out nine hits on day but could not string enough together to get to ODU starter Ben Tomchick.
Delaware had runners on second and third with two outs in the first, but EJ Stoltzfus fouled out without getting a runner home. The Hens also left two runners on in the third, getting back-to-back hits from DJ Long and Pat Dameron with one out, but leaving both stranded.
The major threat of the afternoon for the home team came in the sixth as the Blue Hens trailed 6-0. Steve Ulaky doubled to right with one out to start things off. Nick Ferdinand then singled into right field, but not deep enough to score Ulaky.
Stoltzfus walked to load the bases with one out. Chris Branigan (below right) came up and hit a sharp groundball in the hole between short and third, but Josh Wright reached up at the last second, snared the ball, turned and threw it to second for the force, only allowing one run to score. Tomchick then got out of the jam a batter later.
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Branigan knocked in the team’s other run as well, launching a solo home run off reliever Ben Verlander to lead off the top of the ninth. Dave Anderson followed with a single to right, but Verlander settled down and got two ground balls, the final one on a double play to Wright at shortstop to end the game.
Long and Ferdinand were the only Blue Hens to register more than one hit, each finishing 2-for-4 on the day. Chris Baker paced the Monarch offense, going 3-for-5.
Gatto was saddled with the loss, dropping to 1-4 in his freshman campaign. Tomchick improves to 7-4 with the win. He pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four Blue Hens.
Following the game, Delaware held its yearly team picnic where fans, family, and the team could all join together. Head coach Jim Sherman announced the team’s award winners following dinner as well.
Dameron earned the team’s MVP Award while Ulaky was honored with the Offensive Player of the Year award. Corey Crispell was named the team’s Pitcher of the Year while Long took home the Defensive Player of the Year award.
EJ Stoltzfus was named the Max Orland Rookie of the Year as well. Rounding out the awards were Eric Young and Jeff Murray, who shared the Perry E. Burkett award for dedication, commitment, and inspiration.
The final game of the series will take place on Sunday as Delaware will look to salvage one game from the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
AGATE:
Old Dominion… 1 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 – 6 13 0
Delaware……… 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 – 2 9 1
E – Ulaky (6). DP – Old Dominion 1. LOB – ODU 10; Delaware 7. 2B – Baker (18); Ulaky (17); Ferdinand (8). HR – Burney (7); Branigan (2). HBP – Frazier; Burney. SH – Frazier (9); Stoneback (9).
Win – Ben Tomchick (7-4). Loss – Danny Gatto (1-4). Save – None.
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