Balanced Offensive Effort, Six Shutout Innings From Kuhl Lead Delaware Baseball Past Fairfield, 10-4
March 3, 2012
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• Boxscore
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
NEWARK, Del. -- Ten different batters recorded at least one base hit and sophomore pitcher Chad Kuhl threw six shutout innings to lead the University of Delaware baseball team to a 10-4 victory over Fairfield University in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Jimmy Yezzo had two hits and three RBI for the Blue Hens, while D.J. Long, Nick Ferdinand, and Alex Maruri scored two runs apiece. Anthony Hajjar had four hits for the Stags.
The Blue Hens (4-6), who split a doubleheader with Fairfield on Friday, took advantage of three Fairfield errors to score three runs in the bottom of the first.
The designated hitter Yezzo delivered the big blow in the inning with a double to the wall in centerfield that scored Maruri from third and Chris Branigan all the way from first, putting the Hens up 3-0.
The Stags (4-4) threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases on walks with only one out. Kuhl then struck out left fielder Mike Maschi and retired shortstop Larry Cornelia on a fielder’s choice to extinguish the threat.
After escaping another bases loaded threat in the top of the sixth, the Hens scored three more in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Tyler Powell’s bases loaded pinch-hit double.
Powell stayed in the game in left field and made and outstanding diving catch on Maschi’s drive to lead off the next inning. Powell’s defensive gem proved crucial as the Stags mounted a three-run rally in the inning to get on the board and cut the Delaware lead to 8-3.
However, the Hens scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to again widen their lead.
Kuhl allowed five hits and struck out three in his six innings in earning the win for Delaware, improving his record to 1-2 on the season. Gavin McCullough took the loss for Fairfield to fall to 0-1 on the young season.
The Hens and Stags conclude their series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium. Devon Pearson is expected to take the mound for Delaware against Fairfield's Scott Warwick.
