March 13, 2005

Box Score

NEWARK, DE - Catcher Brian Valichka (Frederick, MD/Urbana) and shortstop Todd Davison (Somers Point, NJ/St. Augustine) each blasted their first home run of the season with a pair of two-run shots to lead the University of Delaware baseball team past Stony Brook, 7-5 in the final game of the series Sunday at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Hens broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and took the lead for good when Dave Harden (Wilmington, DE/Dickinson) singled up the middle, stole second, and scored when Brock Donovan (New Castle, DE/William Penn) dropped a single into left field. Donovan also scored later in the inning when Dan Richardson (Bear, DE/Caravel) singled to left.

Chad Kerfoot (Owings, MD/Northern) (1-0) took the win for Delaware, who evened their record to 6-6 with the win, by shutting the door on the Seawolves in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Jonathon Kalkau suffered the loss for Stony Brook (4-5) by allowing two runs in one inning.

Valichka and Davison each knocked in two runs while Davison added a run scored going 3-for-3 which set the tone for the Hen hitters who scattered 10 hits around the field. Richardson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a stolen base in his first career start.

The Seawolves were led by Andrew Larsen, Tom Pennino, and Chris DiBiaso who each had two hits for the afternoon. Larsen hit a home run and a double while DiBiaso doubled twice in the contest.

Delaware jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Valichka went deep on starter Matt Restivo in the first, scoring Davison, who reached on a bunt. Stony Brook tied the game back up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth with a pair of run-scoring doubles as Dibiaso doubled to score Milani and Larsen doubled to score DiBiaso.

The Hens regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Davison sent his two-run shot over the right field fence and increased their lead to 5-2 in the seventh when Adam Tsakonas (Pottstown, PA/Boyertown Area) scored on a Ryan Graham (Danville, IL/Triton) single.

The Seawolves came alive in the top of the eight and tied the game back up at 5-5. Larsen opened the inning up with a solo home run and was followed by Matt Devins who singled to left, stole second, advanced to second when Isidro Fortuna doubled, and scored on a Nick Theoharis ground out. Fortuna scored the run to tie the game when Pennino singled to right.

"It's just what the doctor ordered," explained Head Coach Jim Sherman, "we had to get a win today because you just can't get swept at home."

Delaware returns to action on Tuesday, March 15 when it takes on the Explorers of La Salle at 2:30 p.m. at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Stony Brook 000 020 030 5-11-2
Delaware      200 002 12X 7-10-1

UD: Rambo, Heckert (8), Kerfoot (8), and Valichka; SBU: Restivo, Murtagh (6), Kalkau (8),and Pennino; HR: Valichka (1) (UD), Davison (1) (UD), Larsen (SBU); 2B: Richardson 2 (UD), Larsen (SBU), DiBiaso 2 (SBU), Fortuna (SBU); DP: SBU-1; SB: Harden 2 (UD), Buber (UD), Graham (UD), Richardson (UD), Devins (SBU); CS: Davison (UD), Harden (UD); HBP: Milani (SBU); WP: Kerfoot (1-0); LP: Kalkau (0-1); Attendance: 205