NEWARK, DE – Ryan Cuneo extended his hitting streak to 23 games, but the University of Delaware baseball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader with Towson, 8-7, 4-3, during a Colonial Athletic Association showdown on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Despite dropping both games, Cuneo continued his torrid streak for Delaware (20-30, 9-17 CAA), roping a single in the opener before notching two more in the nightcap. His 23-game roll is now the fifth longest in program history.

Along with the Hens’ sophomore first baseman, Jared Olson (at right) had a great day at the plate against Towson (26-24, 12-14), roping four hits, including a grand slam in the opener. With the home run, he improved his season total to 11, just one shy of tying Adam Tsakonas for the team lead.

Alex Buchholz, who was making his first appearance in over two weeks, also went deep for the Hens in the opener, while Chris Nehl launched a two-run shot in the second game.

In the opener, a furious late-inning rally by the Blue Hens fell just short as the team could not quite overcome its early eight-run deficit.

Entering the bottom of the sixth, Delaware trailed, 8-0, after the Tiger lineup chased Blue Hen ace Mike McGuire (5-5) for eight runs during his 3.1 innings of work. Despite the large deficit, the squad showed resolve, scoring seven unanswered runs over the last four frames.

In the sixth, Delaware jumped on Tiger starter Zach Umberger (4-2) for five runs. After the right-hander got the first out of the inning, the next six Hens reached base safely. Buchholz started the rally with a walk before Shockley and Cuneo notched back-to-back singles to load the bases. Chris Nehl followed with a RBI rope to centerfield that put the Hens on the board. Olson immediately tacked on four more as he blasted a grand slam to right.

Now trailing by only three at 8-5, Delaware went down in order in the seventh before chipping away at its deficit during its final two trips to the plate. In the eighth, the Hens used two-out doubles by Olson and Ryan Reed to pull within two. A solo shot by Buchholz in the ninth brought the team within one, but Towson closer Josh Squatrito refused to let the game slip away, striking out the last batter of the game to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Although the game turned out to be a tight contest, the Tigers jumped out to a commanding early lead. Following an RBI single by Jason Stifler in the first and a sacrifice fly by Matt Collins in the third, Towson plated six runs in the fourth to grab an eight-run advantage.

During the rally, Greg Furmanek led off with a home run to right. After the Tigers loaded the bases, Nick Natoli notched a two-run single to center. With the bases reloaded after an intentional walk to Brian Conley, Stifler lined a two-out, two-run single down the right field line. Furmanek came back to cap the rally that he started with an RBI single to center.

After that point, the Blue Hen bullpen stifled the potent Towson attack, holding the team scoreless over the last five innings of play. Following 1.2 strong frames by freshman Michael Londino, two seniors came up big on Senior Day to keep Delaware in the game.

Dan Richardson struck out two over his 2.2 innings of scoreless relief before handing the ball to Steve Spiese, who closed out the game for Delaware with 1.1 spotless frames.

Following the tough loss in the first game, the Blue Hens kept pace with the Tigers during the nightcap but once again fell just short. After Towson opened the scoring with a solo shot by Austin Harclerode in the top of the third, Delaware immediately answered with one run of its own in the bottom half of the inning when Kyle Davis singled, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on an RBI hit by Cuneo.

With the game knotted at one, the Tigers struck back for two in the top of the fourth when Harclerode notched his second long ball of the day on a two-run shot just over the right field fence.

Up two, Towson spotted starter Jon Dupski another run in the sixth when Furmanek worked a walk and came around to score on a double by Gary Helmick.

In the bottom of the inning, Nehl cranked a two-run blast to pull Delaware within one. Although the Hens came within inches of tying the game when Olson blasted a shot that just missed connecting with the right field foul poll, the comeback fell short as Dupski (4-6) finished what he started, firing a complete game five-hitter.

Sophomore right-hander Brad Miller (3-4) took the loss for Delaware after allowing three runs in 4.1 innings of work.

The Blue Hens return to action tomorrow when they cap off their home conference slate with a 1 p.m. series finale against Towson.

Game No. 1 Boxscore

Game No. 2 Boxscore