TOWSON, Md. ? Senior rightfielder Bill Merkler belted a game-tying three-run homer in the seventh inning and drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the ninth inning as the University of Delaware (12-6, 2-0) overcame a 7-0 first inning deficit and came from behind to hand the Tigers (11-10, 0-2) a heart-breaking 8-7 loss in the second game of their three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at John B. Schuerholz Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Hens, who handed the Tigers a 9-7 loss in the series opener on Friday, have now won six games in a row.
Merkler's heroics enabled Delaware to overcome a 7-2 deficit in the seventh inning as his three-run homer capped a five-run rally and tied the game at 7-7.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning and the score tied at 7-7, senior leftfielder Jared Olson drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch from senior Josh Squatrito, the Tigers' third pitcher of the game. With Merkler at bat, Olson put himself into scoring position by stealing second base. Then, Merkler bounced a single into left field as Olson scored the go-ahead run, just beating the throw to the plate by senior leftfielder Aaron Gabrielian.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, junior righthander Brad Miller nailed down the victory. With one out in the ninth, senior catcher Jason Stifler singled to put the tying run on base. But, Miller struck out freshman rightfielder Ben Winter and retired sophomore second baseman Chris Wychock on a fly ball to deep centerfield, ending the game.
Miller earned his third win of the season by pitching two innings of shutout relief, allowing one hit.
Led by sophomore righthander Michael Londino, the Delaware bullpen shut out Towson for the final eight innings of the game. After they exploded for seven runs on six hits in the first inning, the Tigers were held to five singles the rest of the way. Although Londino received a no-decision, he pitched 6.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Tigers staged a seven-run rally that knocked Delaware starter Will Blackman out of the game after facing only eight hitters. Blackman walked leadoff hitter Gary Helmick on four pitches. Then, junior centerfielder Kevin Collins lined a single to rightfield. When junior third baseman Steve Yarsinsky singled off the right centerfield fence, the Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs.
Senior first baseman Matt Collins gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead with a two-run single to right centerfield. When Stifler blooped a single to right, the Tigers had the bases loaded again. After Blackman struck out sophomore rightfielder Austin Harclerode, Wychock drew a bases-loaded walk on a 10-pitch at-bat to force in a run, giving Towson a 3-0 lead. When Gabrielian lined a single to centerfield, Matt Collins scored to put the Tigers up, 4-0.
After Gabrielian's single, Blackman was relieved by Londino. Junior designated hitter Max Kelly bunted Londino's first pitch on a safety squeeze as Stifler scored for a 5-0 edge with two outs. When Helmick drew his second four-pitch walk of the inning, the Tigers had the bases loaded again. Then, Kevin Collins lined a two-run single to right, increasing the Tigers' lead to 7-0. Londino finally retired the side when he got Yarsinsky, the 12th batter of the inning, to ground out to first base.
Making the second start of his college career, freshman righthander Tyler Austin was impressive in the early stages of the game. He shut out the Blue Hens on five hits through the first four innings and took a 7-0 lead into the fifth inning.
With one out in the fifth, Austin walked junior third baseman Carlos Alonso, his first walk of the game. When he hit junior first baseman Ryan Cuneo with a pitch, the Blue Hens had two runners on base with one out. A double to right centerfield by senior designated hitter Chris Nehl drove in two runs, cutting the deficit to 7-2. After Nehl moved to third base on a wild pitch, Austin came back and struck out Olson for the second out. He worked out of the jam by retiring Merkler on a ground ball to Yarsinsky at third base.
In the seventh inning, Delaware rallied and knocked Austin out of the game. Senior shortstop Kyle Davis led off with a single to left center and Alonso followed with a single to left. After Austin struck out Cuneo, he was relieved by junior righthander Nate Curd. Curd got Nehl to hit a ground ball to third base. When Yarsinsky made an error, the Blue Hens had the bases loaded. Olson cut the Blue Hens' deficit to 7-4 when he lined a two-run single to centerfield. Then, Merkler blasted his fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot down the leftfield line, tying the game at 7-7. Curd then retired the next two hitters to get out of the inning.
Austin had a very impressive start as he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. He walked one batter and hit another one. He also had six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs as Harclerode drew a walk and Wychock singled before Gabrielian reached base on an error. However, Londino pitched out of the inning by retiring Kelly on a fly ball to deep centerfield.
Each team had 11 hits in the game as Nehl led the Blue Hens with three hits and two RBI's. Merkler was 2-for-4 with four RBI's while centerfielder Scott Shockley had two hits.
Helmick, Kevin Collins, Matt Collins and Stifler each had two hits for the Tigers, who left nine runners on base. Kevin Collins had both of his base hits in the first inning.
Squatrito suffered the loss for the Tigers as he allowed one run on one hit with one walk in two innings.
The Tigers will try to salvage the series finale on Sunday when they host Delaware at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's game will be the 99th all-time meeting between the two teams. It will also be the final game of Towson's 10-game home stand.
