NEWARK, DE -- Senior tri-captain Adam Tsakonas knocked in eight runs and tied a single-game school record with three home runs as he helped the University of Delaware baseball team cruise by Hofstra, 15-6, during their Colonial Athletic Association match-up at Bob Hannah Stadium on Friday afternoon.

With his performance, Tsakonas (at right) became just the 13th player in program history to hit three homers in a single game. He also moved into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time career home run list with 34, passing current assistant coach Steve Harden and former All-American Herb Orensky, who both hit 33 during their careers.

His eight RBI also fell just one short of tying the single-game record set by John Strode against Ursinus on April 15, 1961. Kevin Mench was the last Blue Hen to knock in eight after he did it against Holy Cross in 1998.

During the game, Delaware (9-17, 4-6 CAA) pounded out 17 hits, including home runs by Alex Buchholz and Scott Shockley. Along with Tsakonas’ 5-for-5 performance, Buchholz, Shockley, Bill Merkler, Ryan Reed, and Matt Harden all finished with two hits apiece.

The Blue Hens got on the board quickly, scoring three runs during their first trip to the plate. Kyle Davis led off the inning with a single and came around to score after Tsakonas lined a double to centerfield. Two batters later, Shockley clocked his second home run of the season on a shot over the left field fence.

Davis and Tsakonas came back to start off Delaware's next rally in the bottom of the third after the former worked a walk before the latter drilled a single through the left side of the infield. Buchholz followed with an RBI double to left field before Merkler notched a run-scoring single. Jared Olson pushed the team's lead to 6-0 after drilling a sacrifice fly to left that brought in Buchholz.

Trailing by six, Hofstra (10-20, 0-13) mounted a huge comeback in the top of the fourth to pull within one. Although Delaware starter Mike McGuire was strong through the first three innings of play, the Pride pieced together five runs in their fourth shot against the hard-throwing righty.

Catcher Elliot Hagburg led off with a walk, moved to third on a double by Matt Kougasian, and scored on Nick Panzarella's grounder to first base that was mishandled by Merkler. Tom Legregni continued to make the Hens pay for the error, roping an RBI double to left that brought in Kougasian.

Panzarella then came home on a wild pitch, while Legregni scored on a groundout by Anthony Sarno. Dave Cole capped the scoring after he drilled a shot to first that chased home Dion Pouncil, who had earlier reached on a bunt single.

With the score close for the first time since the opening frame, Tsakonas responded with his first home run of the day on a two-run blast to left. Two innings later, he extended the team's lead to five after duplicating his first shot with a two-run homer that once again cleared the left field fence. Buchholz immediately followed with his second home run of the season which pushed Delaware's lead to 11-5.

The very next inning, Ryan Reed and Harden both singled before Tsakonas topped off his career day with an opposite-field three-run blast that landed on the road behind the right field wall.

A sacrifice fly by Danny Overcash extended Delaware's advantage to 15-5 before Hofstra scored a run off reliever Michael Londino in the ninth to pull within double digits.

Despite his one rough inning, McGuire (4-2) finished with one of his strongest outings of the season, striking out six while surrendering just three earned runs over eight innings of work. Bobby Neelon (1-2) took the loss for Hofstra after allowing six runs in his three-inning outing.

The Blue Hens will return to action tomorrow when they continue their three-game series with Hofstra at 1 p.m.

Boxscore