Blue Hens Beat UNCW 10-3, Earn First CAA Tournament Title In School History

The Blue Hens are going dancing in the NCAA tournament after beating UNCW 10-3 for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title at UNCW’s Brooks Field on Saturday.

Delaware Baseball has been on fire through most of the CAA tournament and today was no different with their pitching and hitting showing up for their biggest game of their careers.

Just to remind how hot the Hens have been lately, the team led the four day tournament in .308 Batting average and ERA with 2.75. The Hens have out scored their opponent in the CAA tournament 38 to 14. Delaware has only trailed in 3 1/2 innings in this tournament while only allowing 11 runs in the process.

It all started in 1st inning for the Blue Hens where they busted out nine runs out of the gate on UNCW.  Every single Blue Hen hitter in the line up got a chance to hit in the inning and each one made the most of it with timely hitting. Also, the Hens showed a lot patience at the plate during the first inning.

1st baseman Nick Patten and Second baseman Nick Tierno led the Hens with 2 RBIs in the first inning and the game. Patten and Designated hitter Doug Trimble led the way for the Hens with 2 hits. Trimble and center fielder Kevin Mohollen led the Hens with each scoring two runs in the game.

After the first inning the offense only scored one more run which was in the second inning, thanks to Catcher Brian Mayer’s ground out that scored Doug Trimble to make the score 10-3 in the Hens favor.

While the hitting cooled down after the second inning, the Hens pitching was just starting to come alive after the third.

Hens starter Colman Villa went 2 innings, gave up 3 hits,2 runs, 2 earned runs, 0 BB’s & 2 K’s the game.

It was relief pitcher Kyle Hinton who dominated the game who went 7 innings and kept the UNCW bats quiet for most of the game.

Hinton stats for the game was he went 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run,1 ER, 0 BB’s and 3 K’s for the game.

After the trophy was handed to the Blue Hens, the team was also honored with all-tournament honors that went to Nick Patten, Kyle Hinton, Jordan Glover, Brian Mayer and Ron Marinaccio. Hens Shortstop Jeremy Ake was honored with the CAA Tournament MVP.

This is Delaware’s first CAA Tournament title in school history and their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2002.