WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- After being held down for the first five innings of the game, the University of Delaware baseball team lit up the scoreboard in the latter innings to post an 8-3 victory over William & Mary during a Colonial Athletic Association contest at Plumeri Park on Friday night.

During the game, Scott Shockley (at right) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Alex Buchholz and Bill Merkler also knocked in two runs apiece, while Adam Tsakonas extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games with an infield single in the ninth.

With the victory, the Blue Hens (8-14, 3-4 CAA) won their third straight game for the first time since the team went on an 11-game roll from April 22 - May 9 last season.

After the Tribe (16-10, 7-6) grabbed an early 3-0 advantage, the Blue Hens came storming back in the top of the sixth. Although Tribe starter Pete Vernon had a perfect game going through five innings of play, the Blue Hen offense seemingly figured out the left-handed pitcher during its sixth crack at the southpaw. Shockley broke up Vernon's gem with a single to lead off the sixth inning, and Jared Olson immediately followed with the team's second hit on a screamer through the right side.

With its first two runners on base, the Delaware rally seemed headed for disaster after Jon Duvall reached on a fielder's choice and was later picked off at first base. However, Kyle Davis was hit by a pitch and Tsakonas walked before Buchholz also was plunked to bring in the Hens' first run.

Merkler then drilled a two-run single to left that brought home Tsakonas and Davis.

In the seventh, the Blue Hens grabbed their first lead of the game after Chris Nehl and Shockley put Delaware up 4-3 after roping back-to-back doubles. A one-out walk to Duvall spelled the end of Vernon's night as the Tribe replaced him with Sean Grive.

The senior reliever had no better luck containing the Hen lineup as Davis greeted him with a single to left that chased home Shockley. Tsakonas then worked a walk to load the bases and Buchholz notched an RBI fielder's choice. On the play, an error by James Williamson also brought home Davis. Buchholz then topped off the rally after stealing third and scoring on an error by Tribe catcher Tim Park.

Despite a few early struggles, McGuire (3-2) settled down and fired seven strong innings. Over that time, he struck out six and allowed only two earned runs. Michael Londino then locked down the win after working two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

In the early going, William & Mary seemed in control of the game after scoring one run during each of its first three trips to the plate. In the opening frame, Ben Guez walked, advanced to third on back-to-back singles by Mike Sheridan and Park, and came scampering home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Greg Maliniak.

Jeff Jones nearly single-handedly tacked on the Tribe's second run of the game after leading off the second inning with a double to left center. Following a pop up to short, he stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Ryan Reed.

The Tribe looked ready to break open the game in the third after loading the bases with no outs after McGuire surrendered a double to Sheridan, walked Park, and hit Maliniak with a pitch. The senior righty worked out of the jam with minimal damage, though, after striking out two while surrendering an RBI groundout to Jeff Jones.

After that point, it was all Delaware as the Hens outscored the Tribe 8-0 in the final six innings of play to grab the win and saddle Vernon (3-2) with his second loss of the season.

With the victory, the Hens extended their winning streak against the Tribe to five straight games, including a three-game sweep last season. Delaware also improved its all-time record against William & Mary to 17-14 dating back to the first meeting between the two schools in 1908.

The Hens will continue their three-game series with the Tribe tomorrow with a 4 p.m. showdown at Plumeri Park.

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