April 8, 2006

Box Score

Newark, Del. - The University of Delaware baseball team used the long ball and timely defense to turn an an 8-2 third inning deficit into a 12-9 win over George Mason University on Friday afternoon.

Brandon Menchaca's three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Hens their first lead of the day. Dan Richardson added two home runs among his three hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Richardson also made a leaping catch against the wall in right field to end the game. Every starter on both teams recorded at least one hit.

After allowing George Mason (11-18, 6-7 CAA) to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Hens (14-12, 3-7 CAA) answered back with two of their own in the bottom half. For the third time in five games, leadoff hitter Richardson sent the first pitch of the game over the fence for a home run. Alex Buchholz followed with his team-leading 11th home run two batters later to tie the game.

With the game tied at two in the top of the third, the Patriots exploded for six runs following an unusual sequence of events. The Hens seemed to be out of the inning when Chris Romanow popped out to right field, but a balk was called on Delaware starter Todd Ozog, negating the play. Romanow then walked, and was followed by a single by Ryan Uphouse which brought in the second Mason run of the inning. Casey Slattery then appeared to strike out to end the inning, again, but once again a balk was called that allowed the inning to continue. Slattery singled to centerfield, bringing in two more runs. Slattery was later able to score on a double from catcher Jason Bour after moving up to second on yet another balk by Ozog. At the end of the inning, the Patriots had taken advantage of three Ozog balks and six hits to build an 8-2 lead.

The Blue Hens started down the comeback trail with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Hens cobbled together a single, a double, an infield single and an RBI groundout to cut the Mason lead to 8-5. Delaware added single runs in both the fifth and sixth, and Mason added one in the top of the sixth to set the stage for the Blue Hen seventh.

With the Hens trailing 9-8, Buchholz led off by getting hit by a pitch by George Mason reliever Eric Gibbons. Bryan Hagerich followed with a walk, bringing Menchaca to the plate. Menchaca drove the first pitch he saw from Gibbons over the fence in right center. The blast was Menchaca's sixth of the year.

Kevin Brown replaced Ozog with one out in the sixth and worked 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his fourth win of the season. Chad Kerfoot retired the last batter to earn his second save. Gibbons took the loss for the Patriots, giving up five earned runs in four innings.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.