Blue Hens Can't Hold on to Early Lead and Drop 3-2 Decision to Towson in CAA Baseball Series Finale
March 24, 2012
• Boxscore
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware right fielder Nick Ferdinand collected three hits but the Blue Hen baseball squad lost to Towson 3-2 and dropped the Colonial Athletic Association series finale Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Delaware (10-13, 4-5 CAA) and Towson (12-10, 6-3 CAA) were set to start the third game of the CAA series at 10 a.m., but rain forced the teams into a 96-minute delay before playing.
The Blue Hens struck first in the game’s opening frame behind DJ Long’s second home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field wall.
UD took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Ferdinand reached second base behind single and throwing error. Shortstop Brock Niggebrugge then lined a RBI single to right field that plated Ferdinand from second base.
Zach Fisher doubled to right field that started the third inning for the Tigers. He advanced to third on Hunter Bennett’s single to right field and scored on a fielder’s choice that cut UD’s lead in half by a 2-1 margin.
In Towson’s half of the fourth inning, back-to-back hit by pitches to Dominic Fratantuono and Brendan Butler were followed by a single to left field by Peter Bowles. With the bases loaded, Andrew Parker lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Fratanuono. A RBI single to right field by Fisher knocked home Butler for Towson’s eventual game-winning run.
Chad Kuhl (1-4) suffered the loss but kept the Blue Hens within striking distance as the righthander held Towson to just three earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts in seven innings on the mound.
Devon Pearson tossed two scoreless innings of relief for Delaware that continued to lower his ERA to 0.71.
Towson’s Brandon Gonnella (2-1) earned the victory for Tigers after the righthander tossed 5.2 innings and yielded just two earned runs on four hits and two walks.
Chris Acker ratcheted his first save of the season as he pitched 3.1 scoreless innings and held the Blue Hens to three hits while striking out four.
Delaware had the chance to tie the game in the ninth inning when Ferdinand led off with a double and moved up to third on a groundout by pinch-hitter Joe Giacchino. But Acker got out of the jam as he struck out Blue Hen pinch-hitters Alex Mottle and Eric Young to end the game.
Delaware returns to action on Tuesday, March 27 at 3 p.m., in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic as the Blue Hens travel to Lehigh University.
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