Delaware Baseball Silenced as Blue Hens Drop CAA Series Opener to William & Mary, 10-2
April 6, 2012
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• Boxscore
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The University of Delaware baseball team dropped its Colonial Athletic Association series opener to William & Mary, 10-2, behind the complete-game effort on the mound by the Tribe’s Matt Davenport Friday night at Plumeri Park.
Delaware (14-16, 7-6 CAA) had its three-game CAA winning streak snapped after William & Mary (22-11, 8-5 CAA) scored 10 runs on only eight hits, but had 11 base runners reach on walks or hit by pitches.
Delaware's Jimmy Yezzo (at right) extended his hitting streak to seven games with a team-high three hits on the night.
Davenport (5-2) kept the Blue Hens off balance all night as the right-hander surrendered two runs on six hits and struck out seven batters en route to his complete-game victory for William & Mary.
The Blue Hens jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when DJ Long reached first base after being hit by a pitch and advanced into scoring position after Brock Niggebrugge’s sacrifice bunt. Yezzo’s RBI double down the left-field line plated Long for the game’s first run.
William & Mary claimed a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the inning after Ryan Brown walked and Stephen Arcure reached on a fielder’s choice. Following a passed ball that advanced the runners into scoring position, Tadd Bower lined a two out, two-run double down the right-field line that gave the Tribe an early lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Tribe sent 10 men to the plate and erupted for five runs. William & Mary tallied five hits in the frame that included RBI base knocks from Michael Katz, Ryan Lindemuth, Josh Smith, Chris Forsten, and Kevin Nutter as the Tribe’s lead grew to 7-1.
Delaware added one run in the top of the seventh inning when Yezzo reached on a leadoff single through the right side and scored on Cameron Travalini’s RBI triple to the left-center field gap as the Blue Hens narrowed the gap to 7-2.
Katz was hit by a pitch and Bower drew a walk in bottom of the seventh inning before Lindemuth launched a two-run double into the right-field corner that gave the Tribe a 9-2 lead.
The Tribe added a final run in the bottom of the eighth inning after the bases were loaded from walks drawn by Arcure and Katz while a pitch hit Bower. Blue Hens reliever Ian Hoff would walk Lindemuth to force home Arcure as the Tribe seized a 10-2 advantage.
UD’s Eric Young (3-3) received the loss after the righty tossed five innings and surrendered seven runs on seven hits. He also issued three walks and registered five strikeouts.
Delaware returns to the diamond for game two of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. The Blue Hens will turn to right-hander Corey Crispell (4-1, 2.09 ERA) while the Tribe will counter with righty Brett Koehler (4-0, 1.76).
