NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware baseball team struck early and kept its winning streak alive as it picked up the weekend sweep of Mason with a 13-0 win on Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Delaware extended its winning streak to 12 games, improving to 22-8 overall and 9-3 in the conference, while the Patriots fell to 12-20 overall and 4-11 in the CAA. John Williams (2-2) took the loss, and Delaware's Matt Soren (2-1) earned the win.
Starting the scoring in the first, Joe Giacchino doubled to left, advanced to third on a groundout by Cameron Travalini and scored on a wild pitch to put Delaware ahead, 1-0. Another run came home on a double to right from D.J. Long and a caught stealing ended the inning but not before Long was able to score on the throw down to second to give Delaware a 3-0 lead.
RBI doubles from Brock Niggebrugge and Travalini tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second to grow the lead to 5-0.
Mason's best chance came in the top of the fifth, as Anthony Montefusco walked, Patrick Esposito singled to left and Josh Leemhuis reached on a Delaware error to load the bases with one out. However, Jordan Hill grounded into a double play to end the inning and Mason threat.
A big fifth inning for Delaware padded the lead, as the Blue Hens batted around and added six runs on seven hits to go ahead, 11-0, before adding two more in the sixth for a 13-0 advantage.
Jimmy Yezzo knocked his second home run of the game in seventh for the 14-0 margin, but Tucker Tobin responded with his seventh home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning to break up the shutout and leave the scoreboard at 14-1.
Pinch hitter Ryan Hartley added the last two Delaware runs in the eighth with a two-run home run to left for the final 16-1 score.
Esposito was the lone Patriot with a multi-hit performance going 2-for-3, and Tobin finished 1-for-3 with the lone Mason RBI.
Niggebrugge finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBI's, while Yezzo went 2-for-4 with three RBI's.
The Patriots return to action on Wednesday, hosting Maryland at 3:00 p.m.
