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Baseball team wins again

6:25 p.m., May 28, 2004--The University of Delaware baseball team will play for the Colonial Athletic Association championship on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Head Coach Jim Sherman's Fightin' Blue Hens advanced to the championship of the double-elimination tournament with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the host team from UNC Wilmington on Friday afternoon.

UD, which entered the tournament as the sixth and final seed, has yet to be beaten. The Hens will play the winner of tonight's game between George Mason and UNC Wilmington at 1 p.m., Saturday.

If the Hens win that game, they will win the CAA championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA College World Series playoffs. If they lose, the two teams will meet again later Saturday in a final game to determine the conference champion.

Once again, UD got strong starting pitching, this time from Scott Rambo, who went eight innings and allowed just two runs.

The Hens threatened in the first inning, when first baseman Scott Van Note singled and stole second but was later thrown out trying to steal third.

UD had another scoring opportunity in the second inning when designated hitter Kelly Buber and All-CAA catcher Brian Valichka hit back-to-back singles, but the Hens were unable to cash in.

UD did break through in the fourth inning, scoring the only three runs of the game and all they would need. Left fielder Dave Harden walked to lead off the inning, then Valichka singled.

Ed McDonnell doubled Harden home but Valichka was out trying to extend the lead. Brent Rogers then singled, scoring McDonnell, and Brock Donovan singled sending Rogers home for a 3-0 lead.

UNC Wilmington chipped away with single runs in the fifth and seventh, and chased Rambo in the top of the ninth. UD reliever Joe Coudon entered and, in a wild inning that included another play at the plate, managed to keep UNC Wilmington from scoring.

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