Crispell’s Gem; Giacchino's Hit Propel Delaware Baseball to 2-1 Win Over George Mason
-lg.jpg)
• File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
FAIRFAX, Va. – Blue Hen starter Corey Crispell held the Patriots scoreless through eight innings and Joe Giacchino came up with the big hit in the seventh inning as the Delaware baseball squad nipped host George Mason, 2-1, in game two of their Colonial Athletic Association weekend series Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Delaware (23-22, 13-10 CAA), which won its third straight game, secured its fourth CAA road series victory this season with the win. George Mason (32-19, 15-11 CAA) suffered its first conference series defeat of the season. The third and final game of the series will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.
Crispell (5-3) (at right), who was in control the entire ballgame, worked into the ninth inning as the senior right-hander yielded just one run and scattered eight hits. In Crispell’s 10 starts this season, Delaware has a 7-3 record. Reliever Stephen Richter closed out the ninth inning with two strikeouts for Delaware to earn his eighth save and second in two days.
Giacchino provided the big hit for the Blue Hens as his two-run, one-out single in the seventh inning plated the first runs of the game. Giacchino, Nick Ferdinand, Ryan Hartley, Tyler Powell, and Ty Warrington accounted for the Blue Hens’ five hits in the victory.
Both starters kept the game scoreless through six innings until the Blue Hens broke through in the top of the seventh. After leadoff hitter Alex Maruri drew a walk, pinch runner Cameron Travalini advanced to second, when Powell reached on a fielding error by George Mason third baseman Blaise Fernandez. After Hartley reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt that loaded the bases, Giacchino lined a two-run single to right field that knocked in Travalini and Powell.
George Mason did make it interesting in the ninth inning after Nick Allen coaxed a leadoff walk and Brig Tison singled through the right side. A wild pitch that was uncorked by Richter put the runners in scoring position for Zack Helgeson, who slapped a RBI single through the left side that scored Allen for the Patriots’ only run. A walk to Fernandez loaded the bases, but Richter tallied the final two outs, striking out Anthony Montefusco and getting Josh Leemhuis to flyout to end the game.
Ryan Pfaeffle (5-5) suffered the defeat for the Patriots after the right-hander was charged with two runs on five hits in seven innings pitched.
Delaware looks to complete the series sweep Sunday as the Blue Hens turn to right-hander Chad Kuhl (2-4, 5.33 ERA) for the start. The Patriots will hand the ball to right-hander A.J. Johnson (6-4, 4.38).
