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Hens upset George Mason to open CAA tournament

Mike Mihalik pitched seven strong innings in the tournament victory over top-seeded George Mason.
4:11 p.m., May 26, 2004--The University of Delaware baseball team opened the Colonial Athletic Association championship tournament with an upset 8-5 victory over top-seeded George Mason on Wednesday afternoon at Brooks Field on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The game seemed to be in hand for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, who took a 5-1 lead into the bottom half of the ninth inning, but then both teams staged furious rallies as George Mason scored four runs to send the contest into extra innings and UD then responded with a three-run outburst in the top of the 10th. The Patriots threatened again in the bottom half of the inning, with runners reaching second and third and the tying run at the plate, but were unable to score.

With the win, a key victory in the double-elimination tournament, UD will play the loser of today’s late afternoon game between Virginia Commonwealth and William and Mary at 3:30 p.m., Thursday.

For complete coverage of the tournament, including live statistics and links to Internet radio broadcasts, visit the official CAA baseball championship web site, which can be accessed from both [www.caasports.com] and [www.uncwsports.com].

For Hen fans who plan to take in the action, tournament passes cost $20 and a single day pass costs $10. Admission to the final game of the day is $5. Tickets can be ordered online at the UNC Wilmington athletics web site [www.uncwsports.com ] or by calling (910) 962-3233.

In Wednesday’s game, the Hens opened the scoring in the second inning on a solo home run by designated hitter Kelly Buber. UD added two more runs in the third when center fielder Brent Rogers and second baseman Brock Donovan hit back-to-back singles then advanced on steals. Rogers scored on a ground out by shortstop Todd Davison, and Donovan scored when first baseman Steve Van Note reached on an error.

The Hens made it 4-0 in the fourth when catcher Brian Valichka, a first team All-CAA selection, singled, stole second and scored on a single by left fielder Ed McDonnell.

Valichka made it 5-0 in the seventh when he singled, stole a base, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

UD starting pitcher Mike Mihalik had a strong outing, working seven innings and allowing just one earned run. Mihalik scattered seven hits and struck out three George Mason batters. Joe Coudon came on in relief in the eighth inning.

Coudon got into trouble in the ninth, allowing four runs on a two-run single by Matt Cooksey and a two-run double by Chris Looze as George Mason tied the game and sent it to extra innings.

UD bounced back with three runs in the top half of the 10th to take an 8-5 lead. Davison, who reached base on a single and advanced to second on a ground out, scored the first run of the inning on a single to center by right fielder Dave Harden. With two outs, Harden came around to score on a single by Bryan Hagerich and then Valichka, who had been intentionally walked, reached the plate on an infield single by Rogers.

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