Blue Hens Battle Towson in Three-Game CAA Weekend Series at Bob Hannah
March 22, 2012-lg.jpg)
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware baseball team looks jump up in the Colonial Athletic Association standings, as the Blue Hens will host the Towson University Tigers in a three-game, CAA series this weekend at Bob Hannah Stadium. Due to the upcoming weather forecast, Delaware and Towson will start the series on Friday, March 23 with a doubleheader at 12:30 p.m. and have a tentative 12 p.m. start on Saturday, March 24.
Tentative Rotations:
Friday - Game One: UD – RHP Eric Young (3-1, 3.48 ERA [13 ER/33.2 IP], 24 SO) vs. TU – RHP Michael Trionfo (3-1, 3.25 ERA [10 ER/27.2 IP], 23 SO
Friday; Game Two: UD – RHP Corey Crispell (2-1, 2.23 ERA [8 ER/32.1 IP], 19 SO) vs. TU – RHP Taylor Clarke (1-1, 4.38 ERA [12 ER/24.2 IP], 22 SO).
Saturday: UD – RHP Chad Kuhl (1-3, 5.32 ERA [14 ER/23.2 IP], 22 SO) vs. TU – TBA.
Blue Hen Notes:
The Blue Hens (9-12, 3-3 CAA), who lost last weekend series to league-leader, UNCW, are riding high following Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the University of Maryland. The UD baseball team sits tied for sixth in the CAA standings with Northeastern. UD owns a 5-4 record at Bob Hannah Stadium this season.
Nick Ferdinand sits atop several offensive categories for the Blue Hens that include: hits (21), home runs (2) and RBI (13). The junior outfielder has started every game for the Blue Hens this season.
Second baseman DJ Long (at right) owns a .430 slugging percentage and leads the UD offensive surge with 11 extra-base hits (nine doubles, one triple and one home run).
Leadoff hitter and center fielder, Cameron Travelini’s 15 runs scored leads the squad while outfielder Tyler Powell paces the Blue Hens bats with a .333 (18-for-54) batting average.
Third baseman Ryan Hartley ranks second on the squad in batting average as the freshman is hitting at a .306 (15-for-49) clip.
Corey Crispell allowed two earned runs on six hits, one walk and two strikeouts as the right-hander tossed a season-high 7.2 IP en route to his second win of the year in his last start on March 17 vs. UNCW. Crispell ranks second on UD the pitching staff with a 2.23 ERA (8 ER/32.1 IP).
Eric Young hopes to earn his fourth and first of the year against Towson after he suffered his first loss of the year in his last start on March 15 versus UNCW. Against the Seahawks, the senior right-hander pitched a season-low 2.1 innings after he was charged with seven earned runs on nine hits and one walk.
Chad Kuhl looks for his second win of the season with Delaware when he makes his sixth start of the season Saturday after a tough-luck loss to UNCW on March 18. In the game the righty held the Seahawks to three earned runs on eight hits, three walks and 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the mound.
Devon Pearson collected his third save of the season in Wednesday’s victory over Maryland. The southpaw tossed three scoreless innings of relief in the game, which lowered his CAA-leading ERA to 0.81 (2 ER/22.1 IP).
In eight appearances out of the bullpen, left-hander Brandon Hinkle has held the opposition to a team-low .192 batting average (5-for-26).
The Blue Hens offense ranks 10th in the CAA with a .250 (171-for-685) team batting average while the pitching staff’s sits eighth in the league with a 5.21 ERA (103 ER/178.0 IP). UD has posted a .964 fielding percentage that has them in fifth place in the conference entering the weekend series.
Towson Tidbits:
The Tigers (10-9, 4-2 CAA) sit in a three-way tie for second place in the CAA with Hofstra and William & Mary. Towson enters the series riding a four-game winning streak that began last weekend with a CAA series sweep of George Mason in addition to a 9-2 victory Wednesday over Delaware State. TU has had troubles on the road this season with a 4-5 record compared to a 6-2 clip while playing at home.
Leading the offense the Tigers is sophomore outfielder Dominic Fratantuono, who leads the team and is third in the CAA with a .431 (22-for-51) batting average. Fratantuono paces Towson in hits (22), home runs (3), runs (17) and stolen bases (5).
Reigning CAA co-rookie of the week, Brendan Butler, gained the award after he hit .667 (4-for-6) with a triple, home run, four RBI and five runs scored in the final two games of Towson’s sweep of George Mason. The freshman first baseman also ranks in the CAA top 10 with a .362 (17-for-47) batting average.
The Tigers pitching staff is anchored by junior right-hander, Michael Trionfo. In five starts the 5’9” righty owns a 3-1 record with a 3.25 ERA (10 ER/27.2 IP) and 23 strikeouts. Trionfo earned a win in his last start on March 16th against George Mason when he allowed one earned run on four hits and seven strikeouts in seven innings on the mound.
The trio of Christian Duclos, Kyle Paul and Mike Ryan have stabilized the back-end of the relief staff as they have combined for a 1-0 record with a 1.11 ERA (2 ER/16.2 IP), 13 hits, five walks and 10 strikeouts in 12 appearances.
Towson University ranks eighth in the CAA with a .268 (149-557) team batting average and have tallied the second-fewest strikeouts (70) in the association. TU’s pitching staff ranks fifth in the CAA with a 4.71 ERA (81 ER/154.2 IP). With 12 unearned runs on the season, the Tigers have the fewest in the CAA.
Around the Bases:
Friday marks the 106th time that Delaware and Towson will play each other in baseball, with the Blue Hens holding a 73-32 all-time record over the Tigers. During last year’s series, UD dropped two of three games versus Towson.
During Friday’s doubleheader fans are encouraged to join the fun and participate in the Guess-the-Pitch competition in the fifth inning anda guess what speed the first pitch of the fifth inning will be to earn a great prize.
Saturday’s game fans will enjoy a full-slate of promotions as spectators will be able to play Blue Hens Bingo as bingo cards will be distributed to fans to compete during the ballgame for one (1) lucky winner to receive a gift card compliments of National 5 & 10 on Main Street in Newark, DE to the first B-I-N-G-O winner. Two (2) lucky fans will be selected to participate on the field during the seventh-inning stretch in the 7th Inning Stretch Promotion presented by Chick Fil-A. Fans can also enjoy $1 OFF hot dog purchases from concessions during Saturday’s game. Lastly, kids 4-10 years of age are invited to take the field with the Blue Hens and run the bases postgame.
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