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UD nine tops Hofstra, stays alive in Colonial

3:55 p.m., May 26, 2005--The University of Delaware baseball team remained alive in the Colonial Athletic Association championship tournament with a 13-2 victory over Hofstra University on Thursday afternoon at Brooks Field on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The Fightin’ Blue Hens lost 9-5 on Wednesday to George Mason University in the first game of the double elimination tournament but bounced back with strong hitting and solid pitching to knock out the Pride. UD had 16 hits, including four home runs, and took advantage of five Hofstra errors.

Brent Gaphardt was the starting pitcher for UD, which broke on top 1-0 in the top of the first inning when shortstop Todd Davison singled home Ryan Graham. However, Hofstra answered in the bottom half of the inning with a run-scoring double by first baseman Mike Walsh to tie the game 1-1.

UD left fielder Brian Hagerich led off the second with a home run, and center fielder Brandon Menchaca walked and eventually scored on a throwing error to build a 3-1 lead.

In the third, the Hens knocked Hofstra starting pitcher Charlie Frago out after he walked designated hitter Kelly Buber and gave up a single to catcher Brian Valichka. Frago was replaced by David Huth, who gave up a single to Hagerich that scored both Buber and, on the ensuring play, Valichka for a 5-1 UD lead.

The Hens extended the lead once more in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Davison to make it 6-1.

After three scoreless innings, the Hens struck again in the top of the eighth on a two-run homer by Graham that scored right fielder Dan Richardson, who had singled, to increase the UD lead to 8-1.

The Hens continued to hit Hofstra pitching, this time picking on Ryan Dunn, in the top of the ninth. The Hens scored five runs on consecutive singles by Valichka, Adam Tsakonas, Hagerich and Menchca and a series of errors. That outburst was capped by a solo home run by Dan Kozek to make the score 13-1, which brought on a fourth Pride pitcher, Jeff Denlea.

UD’s Kevin Brown came on to close the game in relief of Gaphardt, who went eight innings, allowed just one run and struck out nine batters. Brown got two quick outs before Hofstra scored an unearned run on a throwing error.

The Hens will return to action Friday, May 27, at a time and against an opponent to be decided in action later today. To check on tournament action, go to the CAA site at [www.caasports.com] or the UD athletics site at [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo].

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