By Jared Shafran
The baseball team dropped its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) series of the season this weekend to Delaware, losing two of three games.
After losing the first game Friday, the Huskies only managed a split in Saturday’s doubleheader.
Originally scheduled to have a game Saturday and Sunday, the matches were rescheduled for a doubleheader Saturday due to an unfavorable forecast for Sunday, to insure all three games were played.
In Friday’s game, the Huskies couldn’t battle back from a first inning deficit, in which they let up five runs on four hits and lost by a score of 5-2. Senior captain and pitcher Kris Dabrowiecki started the game for the team, settling in after a rough start. After the opening inning, Dabrowiecki (0-2) pitched another five innings, allowing no runs and only five hits.
Junior Dan Zehr threw two scoreless innings in relief to finish off the game, lowering his ERA to 2.08 in 13 innings of work so far this season.
The Huskies’ bats were quieted for most of the game by Blue Hens pitcher Mike Maguire, who held the Huskies to seven hits in seven innings, with only one of them going for extra bases.
For Delaware, right fielder Jared Olson hit well, collecting three hits on the day. Catcher Ryan Reed and left fielder Pat Dameron each had two RBI.
“We had too many at bats that we got down in the count,” said head coach Neil McPhee. “It made us have to hit defensively.”
In the second game of the series, the tide turned for the Huskies, who were led to a 5-3 victory on the back of junior starting pitcher Jeff Thomson.
Thomson pitched his third consecutive complete game this year, allowing only one earned run on four hits through seven innings.
“He is a strike machine,” McPhee said about Thomson. “He understands the importance of getting ahead in the count and he is very efficient.”
Senior shortstop Mike Lyon continued to improve his already impressive offensive numbers, going 4-4 with two doubles.
“Mike has been magnificent,” McPhee said. “He has been our all-around best player so far.”
Also contributing on the offensive end was sophomore left fielder and designated hitter David Gustafson, who went 3-4 with three doubles of his own and an RBI.
In the final game of the series, the Huskies were unable to come out with a victory, losing 5-1.
Another starting pitcher stepped up to lead the Blue Hens. This time it was Brad Miller, who only surrendered one run and four hits in five and two-thirds innings of work, striking out seven Huskies in the process.
“I can’t take anything away from Delaware’s pitching,” McPhee said. “It’s a matter of the approach we take. Our hitters need to be aggressive and confident.”
Freshman rookie Les Williams got the nod for the Huskies. Williams gave up three runs in three and a third innings.
The lone run for the Huskies came on a double by left fielder Mike Tamsin.
For Delaware, third baseman Adam Tsakonas hit a perfect 4-4, including a home run, to drive in four of the Blue Hens’ five runs.
The Huskies now drop to 7-6 on the season and 1-2 in the CAA. Delaware improves to 5-12 overall and 2-4 in the CAA.
Next weekend, the Huskies will host George Mason for a three game series at Friedman Diamond in Brookline. Friday’s start time will be 2 p.m.
“There is plenty of season left,” McPhee said. “We need to play a little more consistent and a little more aggressive.”
